HISTORY of RANDOLPH COUNTY ARKANSAS

FIRST EDITION

Published By DEMOCRAT PRINTING AND LITHOGRAPHING COMPANY Little Rock. Arbnsas

DEDICATION

Dedicated to the men and women, hardy pio­ neers, who blazed a pathway and trail to the West, and settled in what is now Randolph County, Arkansas, more than one hundred years ago. Who cleared her forests, builded their homes, and started a civilization that has grown brighter through ·the years. It was upon the faith of these people that happy homes were built and our his­ tory made possible. It was the hope and wish of the writer to preserve for future generations the glory ar~d history of our yesteryears as an inspira­ tion for the days to come. The work necessary in the preparation of this book has been a labor of love, and I am dedicating it to their memory in the hope that it may inspire us to greater deeds and greater efforts.

Respectfully,

LAWRENCE DALTON THE AUTHOR

PREFACE

. In writing the history of any county, if written by one of its inhabitants, the job sums up to be the recording of the story of his neighbors and their foreparents, in as fair and impartial manner as possible. With this idea before the reader, the author desires to make the following statements. This book is not a high­ powered treatise on the subject of social science, or a deep and weighty text burdened down ,vith the different angles which could be introduced here. This is simply a story of the author's own county, told in plain everyday language, such as he has been using for a number of years in the writings which we have been doing for the local weekly, and a few special feature articles which we have furnished to a fe,v city dailies. The source of our information has been legal records of the state of Arkansas and also from Lawrence and Randolph counties, a sprinkling of material has been secured from papers and magazines and state histories. Besides this, a lot has been secured from the Ii ps of men and ,vomen whose parents or grandparents were here ",vhen it happened." We gratefully ackno,vleclge this help. The political data came from state records, but so far as ,ve know this is the first time anyone has ever attempted to ,vrite a history of Randolph County. To the critics ,vho may peruse the pages of this book, we ,vould say: Please remember that in so far as the historical material is concerned, in a general sense, we will defend its authenticity to the end, but if you desire to look at this work from a literary standpoint, please bear in mind that when ·we ,vere pouring over the musty old records or searching the pages of some long forgotten historical work, we ,vere look­ ing for Randolph County history and not for points on rhetoric and composition. There are errors, both grammatical and historical, for which we ask the readers kind indulgence. It is impossible to .write a book. of this kind and not include some mis­ information, but we hope and believe the instances are few We sincerely thank everyone who has helped us, in any way, in getting this material together. The author humbly presents this book, not in the hope of any great monetary reward, but with the desire to present and preserve for future generations interesting and valuable historic records of our county and our fine people, while we have the time and opportunity.

THE AUTHOR THE AUTHOR'S FAMILY Mr. and Mrs. La,,:,rence Dalton and Son., Herman

Table of Contents

GENERAL IDSTORY-Part One. Page Before History Began_ ...... __ _ 1 First History of the County...... ·-·······-·····-··---·- 5 F'irst Inhabitanta--Indians...... _ ..__ ...... ____ 7 Randolph County in 1800 ...... -·--·--···- 8 First White Settler...... ·····································································-··--- 9 First Court ...... _ ...... ____ 13 Old Military Road ...... ·························-··········--- 16 Other Early Roads ...... ___ _ 21 Early Lines of TranBPOrtation ...... ---· 23 Early Social and Religious Life...... 26 Early Watermills... _...... -··-··-··--··-...... 29 Ear1 y Churches...... ··-··-··--.. 33 Early Schools and Educators...... 43 Drew--Our Only Governor...... 47 Pocahontas' Three Courthouses ...... 54 Randolph County Prior to Civil War...... 61 The Civil War...... 66 Streams of the County·····························································································-······ .. ··-··-··· 72 Railroads of the County...... • '17 Catholic Church in the Count:,...... 81 Randolph County NewSPapers ·•······························································································-·- 87 Randolph County's Part in War ...... 90

MISCELLANEOUS-Part Two List of All County Officials...... ·················································································-··-··-··· 97 Courthouse Gang in 1946 ...... ·-··-··-··-··-·- 98 Odds and Ends of County History...... __ 102 Interesting Items···•···•···········•··························································-··-··-··-······-······-··-······-·· 110 Where Our People Came From...... ·-·······················································--···-········... - 113 Who Lives in Randolph County...... _ ...... _ 114 Carry Me Back to Old Virginia...... -·-··-·-·--··········-· .. ~······················---·- 118 0 Id time Religion...... _...... -····· ...... ·-··-··-··-·.... ·-··-··-_...... 120 Oldtime Country Store...... - ... ··········································---- 126 Oldtime Singing.. ·-··-··-··-·--·· -----······-··-············-··-··········································· 130 Ku Klux Klan...... ·-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-·-·--··-·- 131 Slavery...... _. 133 Some of the County's Noted Men ...... ___ 136 Randolph County Polities...... _____ 155 Historic Sites.______--····•·.. ·· .. ··················-··--·-·-···-·-·- 158

COMMUNITIES-Part Three

Attica ·-·------······-··---··-··-······-······-··-··------161 Albertha 1~ Biggers-· 164 Black River Bottom-s------·------·-······------· 168 Dalton ...... ··------·-----·----·------172 Davidsonville .. 173 Fourche de Thomas ------····.. ··-······-··-··········-··--·--··--- 179 Glaz.e Creek Chureh... ______··-······-······-·· .. ······------184 Gravesville ------·····-···-•-·····················-···-···-·····- 185 Hamil ... ·------··•··-······························------· 187 Johnstont.o'9:'n...... ·-··-·····-······-·-··-·--··--- 188 High Point School --······-··········-···-·············-··-·-- 190 Middlebrook ------·-··-··-·-·--·-··-··-·------190 Maynard. --·· ·-·----- 194 Ma.ynard_•s Sehools.------·-·--··--- 198 Noland ·-·· 200 Water Valley 202 Oconee.. 203 Pitman·•-·· 205 Palestine-Ingram 212 Pocahontas ... 215 Ravenden Springs. ··----·-··················-·······-·····.. ··········-······...... __ 231 Reyno. ______· ..······-··-··-·· ...... --•·------··---·----- 235 Supply .....----·------·------·-··-·····-·-·--·---········-··-··-·---- 238 Siloam Church.______··-··---··-·-·-·-······ 241 Union Township 243 FAMU,V HISTORIES-Part Four Page Elm Store··········-······-··-·-······-··-······························································································-· 246 Warm Springs.... ·-······-··-··-··-··-··-··-··-····················································································· 247 D. T. Athy Family...... ················································-··-··-··-······-··-··· 254 Dr. John W. Bryan······-··-··-··-··-··-······-················································································· 257 The Campbells (T. W.) ...... ·-··-······-··-··-· ·-···················· ...... 261 Dalton Family ( General History) ..·-··-··-··-······-·····························...... 264 .Tames L. Dalton-Inventor...... -········-··-··-······-·· ...... 268 ~a;. ~~!~ta!il~~.~~:::=::::======::::=::=::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ~: Davis-Spikes Family.. ·-··············-··-··-··········-································································ ...... 286 Hite Family ·-·--···-· ·····················-······················································ ····································-····· 288 Dr. Martin Hogan Family.··-··-··-··-··-····················•·································································· 290 Prof. John Hogan and Wife··-··-··-··-······-··-··-····································································· 292 ~:: l=tl!y:::::=::::::=:::::::::=::::::::=::=:::::=::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: i:~ Rev. S. L. Johnston Family·······-······-··········-··········································································· 300 John A. Johnson Family...... ·-··---···································••·••······••··•···································· 303 Landon Christopher Haynes··················-··-··············································································· 306 Holt Family..... ·······-··-··············-·································· ...... 307 John Lamb Family...... ····-······-·················...... 309 Charles Wiley McCarroll ··········-··-···················· ...... 314 W. L. (Fayette) Mock Family...... ·-··············-·······•· ...... 316 Marlette Family...... ·············-··-·········································· ...... 319 ::~rdF!:fl1;ly(L~··j~~·j:::~:::::::::=::::====::=::=::::::=::~.:::::::::·:::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::: :~: A. F. Rickman Family······•···········-··-······················ ...... 327 Dr. Horace E. Ruff Family...... 328 Sbride Family..... •···················-··············-····················•··•· ...... 331 William T. Stubblefield··········-··-··-··-··-············· ...... 333 Eugene G. Schoonover ·············-··-··-······-··-············· ...... 336 S. A. ("Dore) Smith Family·················-··-······-········ ...... 340 Shaver Family···-······-··········-······-·-··-··-·················...... 342 Spikes Family··•········-······-··-··-··-··-··-··-···················•···•············ ...... 347 Ben. F. Taylor Family······-··-··-··-··-······-···············································································- 349 William Jefferson McColgan..·-··-··-··-··-·--······-·· ·······-····· ... ···········································-··· 351 Eugene Thompson ······-··········-··-··-·--··-··················••·· ...... 352 Lemmons Family .···············-··--·-·-··--······· ...... 313 Oscar Prince Family...... ·-··-··-··-··-··-··-·-··············•··• ...... 326 Wyatt Family .. ·········-··-··--··-····--·-······-·············· ...... 355 Solomon M. White.. ·-······-··-··-··-----·--··-·--·····...... 357 ILLUSTRATIONS The Author's Family.. ·-··-··-··-··-··--··-······-··-······...... Front James G. Russell House··-······-··---·--··-··-··-·······•··························••··································· 13 Some of the County"s Teachers in the Eighties ·-··········-·-······•··••··········•···················-··- 42 Mrs. Eliza Hogan's School in Pocahontas About 1885 .. ·-··········-················· ·············-···- 42 Thomas s. Drew... _.. --·----·-····························································-·-··•····• 48 Governor Drew's Monument.-·------·-·······•···•··················································· 50 Old Coarthouse·•·-··-··-·· ------···························································--- 56 New Courthouse··-·····------·········-·····················•································-- 56 Hite C,emetery Building. ______. ___ ...... --··-··· 166 Old Davidsonville ··-··-··------··-··-·························-·-················ ·········-··············· 174 Old Columbia Church Site.------··---····················•· ...... 181 Old M.a!lonie Hall······-··-·-----·--·-··············································••···············--··-···· 191 Pitman Ferry Site.. ·-··-··-·····-·-----························································-···········-·- 206 Pitman Cemetery···-······-··-·····-·---·---···················•······•········································-··-·- 208 Bettis Bluff TodaY.·-··-··-··-··-··--····-··-·········-···--···················••~·•············•·•·······--··-- Z15 Six Churches in Pocaho11tas ·-··························-··················-······--·· 219 South.side Square in 1880.------·-·---···········•··········-··-······-······---- 229 The Campbell Sisters.·-·------·····-······-······-··················-·························- 260 John Stone CampbelL. ______····-··-·······················································-- 260 Tom W. Campbell··-·····------···-·-··················-···-·········--··················-··-- 261 Mrs. Tom W. Campbell.------·····-··················-··-··-·······················-·· 262 Mr. and Mrs. Elijah Dalton·------··-·-······················-···-··-·-··-··········-- 274 Joe S. Decker.. ·-··--·-·------·-··-··---··-·-······-··················-··-···············•······-·- 284 Elder John IL Lemmons··-··------·········-······-··--·-······-··-·-··········-··- 312 Mr. and Mrs. William H. Johnston ··-·-·--··--·--·-·-··-··-··-··-·····················-·····--···-·-·· 346 General History

Part One

HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUNTY

"BEFORE HISTORY BEGAN"

The part played by those w~o have appeared on th~ stage of discovery,. exploration, settlement and improvement of our native land goes into the making of the greatest huID.3:n drama of all times. · · · From the day that Hernando de Soto and his followers crossed the hills and dales of Randolph County, unto the present day of atomic en~rgy, penicillin and political purges, there has been unfolded, day by day, scenes which go into the maki~g of one of the most colorful stories ever told. . _To go farther back, ,ve could picture the Redman, as he moved slo·wly but surely south from the Aleutian stepping stones. \Vhen the curtain rose and showed us the initial scene of the long forgotten ages, wherein the father and mother of the India~, as yellow skinned Mongolians, whose fishing boat which had been blown far from its course, had been wrecked on Attu or Rat Island, instead of the long finger of conti­ nental Asia, as the story may have happened, we would, here and there, have been placed in the spot, in the story of Time, where we say, in modem movie language, "Here is where . ,, we came 1n. The next scenes before us ,vould show the fight for sur­ vival of those who were destined to "multiply and replenish the Earth," especially that part which we ~l _the Americas. Some of the children of these ancient: peop~e mov~~-·south, far south, where the sun, the ~ns and Father Time ~d changed that yellow ·to copper or brown and in the long trek from the Aleutians to Panama, by way of the Pueblos of New Mexico, had trained their hands to work in many ways for­ eign to the original fishermen. Here we would see unfolded, century by century, the story of the Aztecs and their gold and tropical cities; the Eskimo who had retained his mother color; _the Seminoles of th~ Florida Everglades.% the AJ.goJ1quin$ of New England and GENERAL HISTORY the Osages and Cherokees of our o,vn Randolph County section. · Flash! And the flickering screen of time would thro,v before our eyes the landing of the Pinta, the Nina and the Santa Maria! Along with the sound of splashing ,vaves and flapping sails we would hear, on Time's sound track, that joyous shout of land! land! from the tongues of the Thirteenth Century Spaniards, whose leader was that illustrious "Dago" from Genoa, Christopher-Columbus. When those Redmen of San Salvador ran down to the seashore to look upon the "great white birds from the east," there was a reunion. This reunion was that of fragments of the great human family which, spread from God's own Garden of Eden, around the world, by way of Greece, and Rome, the shores of the Mediterranean, Saxony, Gaul and ancient land north of Gibraltar, to cross the stormy .l\tlantic, to meet the other end of that human throng which had travelled across India, Thibet, Manchuria and Eastern Siberia to board the Behring Sea fishin~ boat in the early morning of time to be blown by the icy winds on to the shore of Attu, Rat Island or maybe the Pribilofs, here to bury their identity as Mongoiians and to forever in the future be known as the Redman. Though this act is back in that space of time which is four hundred and fifty-four years down the avenues of time behind us, yet we must record this event not only as the "Genesis" of our American history, but also classify it as the da'\\'11 of modem history in the \Vestem Hemisphere. The story of Columbus is known by all who have gone to school or who has delved into the musty recordings of the past. Then came the Cabots, Champlain, Henry Hudson, Cap­ tain John Smith, Ponce de Leon and many others during the

[2] GENERAL HISTORY first two centuries follo,ving the Spanish landings in the West Indies, including Hernando De Soto, who we claim was· the first white man to set foot on Randolph County soil. In an unsuccessful and fatal search for gold which led De Soto to our part of the continent, in 1539 he sailed from Cuba and landed on the coast of Florida. For the next year and a half he and his men wandered around over what is now the southeastern part of the United States, looking for gold and fighting Indians. In 1541 they crossed the Mississippi River near the site of Memphis and then travelled around over Arkansas for several months, finally crossing into what is now Louisiana, where he died May 21, 1542. No one ,vill ever know exactly where his trail ran. It is supposed to have ran up as far as New Madrid, Missouri, and then turning, came back across the hills by way of what is now Butler County and Ripley County, in Missouri and across Randolph, and other counties of Arkansas. Just ,vhat month and time of year he came down the old Indian trail, which later became to be the old National road and still later the old Military road, is not known, but there is good evidence that he did come our way. Time marches on. The scroll continues to roll, ,vhen down from the land of the Illinois and the headlands of the "Father of \Vaters" came La Salle and his noble band of Frenchmen, including De Tonti ,vho was destined to carry on after La Salle quit the walks of men, in the state of Texas. This was in the year 1682 that La Salle came. Four years later De Tonti erected a cross at the site of the future to,rn of Arkansas Post and claimed all this section for the king of France. De Soto opened the door of Arkansas and our county to the world and modem history when he crossed the mighty river in 1541, but for the next one hundred and forty-one years the forests stood and the river rolled on unmolested by the hand of white men. De Tonti "started something" when

[3] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY he established Arkansas Post. These early Frenchmen fared· far better in this ne,v land than the Spanish. The Spanish came to rob and steal. The French came to open settlements and bring Christianity to the Indians. Marquette, who came $is way, from the "cold and frozen north" in 1673, was also aman of God who sa,v in the Redman another human being, and recognized and ackno,v ledged the brotherhood of man. From 1686 until another century had rolled into the past and gone, we have no record of anyone coming. Randolph County's way. · When the first rays of the dawning of the morning of the nineteenth century showed above the horizon, what is no,v Randolph County was yet an unbroken wilderness. PossibJy old De Maux, for whom the river Fourche de Mas ,vas named,. was living here in the backwoods fastness of our county'~ ver­ dant hills. Tradition tells us that he was a son or grandson of one of the men left at the Post of Arkansas by his ancestor countryman, De Tonti, many moons ago. Here his sire mar­ ried an Indian girl, and for the first time in centuries beyond number the blood of the east was mixed with the blood· of the west to produce the first man who called himself "white," who was a native of our local soil. Such was the setting of the stage for the last act of our drama which we call "modem times," which has consumed a hundred and fifty years of God's great Eternity and goes on! Such ,vas the stage which was set for the appearance _of. John Janes, ~Iatthias Mock, "\Villiam Jarrett, William Hix, John Davidson, William O'Neal, John Shaver, Jerolil:e ~lat­ tix, Obediah Hudson, Shadrach Nettles, the DeMunns, the Millers, the Pitmans, the Luttrells, the Bettis and the dozens and dozens of others who came here during the first days of the past century to take their places on that vast stage of human activities, joys and sorrows, success and failure which continues to play and which will continue to do until the 01rtain £al~ "and time shall be no _more." GENERAL HISTORY

This is the story of Randolph County, Arkansas, from the time "before the time ,ve know about" until we come to. the actual recorded part ,vhich is contained in this book, begin­ ning around the year one thousand, eight hundred one, and co~tinuing until the present, ,vhich ,ve call 1946.

FIRST HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

What is now Randolph County ·was originally a small part of that vast territory first kno,vn to us as the Louisiana Pur­ chase. The first white man to set foot on its soil is supposed to have been the Spanish explorer, Hernando De Soto, and his men in the year 1541. Some historians deny this. Actually no one knows exactly the route these men travelled; but the first settlers in the vicinity of the present-day Pitman Ferry community found Spanish armor and Spanish coins of this date on the site of what was supposed to have been a camping ground of De Soto. Also a Spanish sword of the same design as carried by De Soto in his travels through the Mississippi Valley was unearthed near the site of the old to,vn of David­ sonville a fe-nr years ago. Tradition tells us that this place ,vas first known to the white man as an ancient Indian village and that De Soto and his men stopped here quite awhile in the cold ,vinter of 1541. The next white man to visit in this section was the French­ man, Marquette, in the year 1673. He was followed by other Frenchmen, La Salle in 1682 and De Tonti in 1686. The latter established ~-t Arkansas Post, in 1686, the first perma­ nent settlement in the Mississippi Valley. All the land west of the Mississippi was first claimed by the Spaniards because of their right of discovery. Just ho,v and when it became the property of the French is not kno,vn, but the French ceded it to Spain in 1763. Spain again ceded it to France in 1800. France only o,vned it three years the last time, selling it to the United States in the year 1803 ..

[51 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

This is known in history as the "Louisiana Purchase." The deal ,vas made during the administration of Thomas Jeffer­ son and is by far the most important land deal which our nation has ever made. After the United States became owner of this vast land area, which was approximately the ,vestem half of the entire Mississippi Valley, it was cut up into various "districts" and '·territories." What is now Randolph County was first a part of the District of Louisiana, being so designated in 1804. In 1805 it was made a part of the District of New Madrid, ,vhere it remained until 1813. From 1813 to 1815 it was a part of the County of New Madrid in the Territory of Missouri. It was a part of the County of Lawrence in the Territory of Missouri from January 15, 1815, to July 4, 1819. From July 4, 1819, until October 29, 1835, it was a part of Lawrence County, Arkansas Territory. On this latter date Randolph County came into existence as a separate county in the Arkan­ sas Territory until the next year (1836) when the territory became one of the states of the Union. Randolph County has been a part of four great countries (including the Confederacy), three territories, two states, four counties, and is older by one year than the state of Arkansas itself. Being located almost in the very "heart" of the original vast Louisiana Purchase, ,ve ,vho call Randolph County our home appreciate and respect the statement made by Robert Livingston ,vho negotiated the deal ,vith France ,vhereby the United States became the o,vner of this vast domain, when he said on that memorable day of May 4, 1803, "We have lived long, but this is the noblest ,vork of our entire lives. It will change vast solitudes into flourishing districts." Such was the opinion of the statesman ,vho made the deal ,vhereby our nation became o,vner of over 1,182,000 square miles of rich virgin territory for a sum of only alx>ut fifteen million dollars. Randolph County is a part of that purchase.

[6] GENERAL HISTORY

FIRST INHABITANTS - THE INDIAN

There are many signs of work done by the so-called pre­ historic Mound Builders in this section. These people were supposed to have been a people who inhabited much of the North American continent, and especially the Mississippi Valley .. Just who these people were and from whence they came and where they went will probably never be known. They were different from the Indians who were here when the first ,vhite man came. Their name suggests one of their traits. They built huge mounds, usually in the valleys or lowlands. Excavations in these mounds reveal that they were used as burying grounds and other purposes. Some of these mounds are found in Randolph County but none with evi­ dence such as has been found in other parts of the state. This section was once the home of at least two distinct branches of the North American Indian, the Osages and the Cherokees. Both branches had lived here long before the coming of the first white settler and most of them had moved farther ,vest even before permanent ,vhite settlements had made much headway. Cherokee Bay in eastern Randolph County ,vas named for the Cherokees ,vho resided along the ridges in that section and hunted and fished in the low bot­ toms and along the banks of Black and Current rivers. The Osages also lived in this section and there is evidence that the latter drove the Cherokees out sometime during the early Indian ,vars when the first settlers on the eastern shores of our nation were driving all the Red.men westward. Randolph County escaped the trouble with the Indian that many of the eastern pioneer communities had. So far as we are able to learn, no fight was ever made between the whites and Indians ,vithin the present borders of Randolph County.

[7] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

RANDOLPH COUNTY IN 1800

We who now live, being used to the mars and scars made by human habitation·upon the face of the land, can scarcely realize just how our country looked before the devastating hand of man started working. Where broad fields now spread, once stood giant hardwood trees, the age of ,vhich dated back to the -Dark Ages. \Vhere ,ve no,v see old fields wounded by deep gullies and overgro,vn by sage grass, once stood walnut trees which would fit in with any cabinet­ maker's wildest dream. The lowland sections of the county was a vast carpet of trees and vines divided here and there by sloughs and marshes. Black virgin soil, three feet deep, made up of the accumulation of decayed vegetation for centuries. Wild fruits and berries grew in abundance everywhere. On the uplands were found practically the same picture except that it was higher and not marshy. The streams like Fourche, Janes Creek and others were clear, deep mountain streams. Deep pools of ,vater surrounded by large softwood trees and shoals lined ,vith ,villows and other shrubs and trees ,vhose roots sought the damp, rich banks of the creeks. No "washes" and wide gravel bars ,vere to be found before men came and cut a,vay the timber and plow·ed loose the soil to be ,vashed down the creeks by every big rain which fell. Not a mark scarred the miles and miles of virgin forests except: the narro,v thread-like trails of the buffalo and Redman. Such was the setting of the stage upon ,vhich the first settlers moved onto to start that colossal drama of human activity of ,vhich we are ~ow a part. Wild game was present in abundance. Fish, fowls and fur-bearing animals found a veritable paradise. Buffalo, bear, wolves, panthers, deer and all the srna11er animals were natives of this section. ,vild turkeys, geese, ducks, and other fowl life was plentiful, and the streams abounded ,vith fish. ,tjl this was the "Manna of Life"' for the American Indian as well as the early pioneer. It is almost beyond our power of

[8] GENERAL HISTORY imagination to realize the immense contrast in what the traveller of 1800 saw in a trip from O'Kean to Elm Store or from Reyno to Ravenden, compared with the· scene along the ,vay in 1946 I Blooded cattle graze along the slopes of the upland, set in• Bermuda or lespedeza, where once grazed the buffalo, under the giant trees. Tractors hum across the allu­ vial fields where once the bear and deer made their way along the narrow paths through the cane and vine entanglements. Thus is a century and a quarter of transformation.

FIRST WHITE SETTLERS

Just who the first white man was who came into what is now Randolph County to make his permanent ·home. will never be known. No record has ever been made of an early

French settler in this county. The mother county of La"1- rence, just to the south of us, kno,vs and recognizes the fact that it was possibly the French who established the first per­ manent homes in that county. They probably did the same in this county in the vicinity of Davidsonville and along Fourche DuMas creek. De Tonti left ten Frenchmen in Arkansas when he was here in 1686. Whether any of these men reared families will never be known. The first name for this creek ,vas of French origin. It was written "Fourche De l\faux." \Vho can deny that away back in 1686 ,vhen De Tonti left these men here in ..this remote wilderness that one or more of these men did not come to Randolph County and marry· a legendary Indian Princess and adopt the ways and life of the Redman, and though leaving a fe,v French names scattered around, lived and died with the Indians to bury forever the story of the first white settler of Randolph County! · · There is some evidence to support the claim that there was an active French trading post at Pocahontas before 1790. But with all this, it remains for the historian to designate, so far as is possible, the name or names of the first families to

[9] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY make this their permanent home. Shinn"s History of Arkan­ sas says that John Janes, a Revolutionary soldier, settled on the creek which bears his name in the· year 1809. Reynold's History of Arkansas, which was used as a text-book about 1910, states that Matthias Mock settled on Mud Creek in central Randolph County in 1815 to become the first settler. The Jarrett family has records that tend to prove that their ancestor, Dr. William Jarrett, settled at what is now known as the Foster ford on Fourche near 1800. William Jarrett, who died in Little Rock in 1944 at the age of ninety-five, stated years ago that the Dr. Jarrett named above came here from Lincoln County, N. C., in 1800 and that he bought land at "Columbia" at that early date from Richard Fletcher. This Richard Fletcher was the father of John Gould Fletcher, the sire of the noted Fletcher family of Arkansas. More will be related about this family in another chapter. C. L. Free­ man, in his History of Northeast Arkansas, stated that Wil­ liam O'Neal, Obediah Hudson and Shadrack Nettles settled on the state line between Oregon County, Missouri, and Ran­ dolph County, Arkansas, in 1812. David Black settled on Elevenpoint at what is still known ~ Black's Ferry in 1815. Tom Holt settled near Warm Springs in 1821 .. George Mans­ ker settled on the creek which bears his name just north of the city limits of Pocahontas in 1817. May 27, 1815, William Clark, Governor of Mwouri Territory, appointed William Russell as Justice of the Peace "within and for the Settlement of Fourche de Thomas." Two days later he also appointed \Villiam Harris for the same place and position. On the first records of La,vrence County, Elijah Baker is recorded to have· made a property transfer to Beverly Baker, June 8, 1815.· These Bakers lived on Elevenpoint River, Randolph County. November 15, 1818, James Smith sold his improvement on "Glaze Kenon Creek" to William I.inn. In his deed Smith stated that he had actually improved and cultivated this place before April 12:r 1814, the date the settler's right to pre­ emption claim on real estate came into effect. John Shaver settled on Mud Creek near the present-day ·1ngram about

[101 GENERAL HISTORY

1818 or earlier. Solomon Hewitt sold the farm on which the first court of Lawrence County was held to Benjamin Crow­ ley, October 12, 1819. This property is described on -the records as being "on the north bank of Spring River, two miles above the mouth of Elevenpoint." Crowley already lived here at this time. This Benjamin Crowley is the man who settled at Walcott, Greene County, and for whom Crow­ ley's Ridge was named.. Eclward McDonald, who was Law­ rence County's first Representative in the Territorial Legis­ lature in 1820, lived near the present village of Supply prior to that time. Charles Hatcher lived in the south end of Davidson township befor~ 1818. He was appointed Justice of the Peace in that year. Dr. Englemann, ~he noted German physician and scientist, travelled from St. Lquis to Little Rock in 1837. He spent some time at the home of Dr. Peyton R. Pittman at Pittman's Ferry and stated that the latter had lived here over twenty-five years at that time. William Hix owned this ferry years before Dr. Pitttpan became owner. Evidently Hix's Ferry was in operation .around 18_00. The census for the year 1830 listed the fo.llowing persons in Ran­ dolph County aged 60 to 70: William Hix, John Pierce, Isaac Flannery, William McKnight and J~es Davis; aged 70 to 80, Nathan Luttrell, James Boyd, Martin Vanzandt, and Mrs. Joe Kellett; over 80 years of age, John Shaver. The follow­ ing names are listed as leading citizens of the Davidsonville community before 1815: Louis De Mun, William Robinson, \Villiam Hix (evidently Hix moved to Daviclsonville when he sold out at Pittman), Solomon Hewitt, Andrew Criswell, James M. Kuykendall, Isaac Kelley, Charles Kelley, Morris Moore, James Campbell, Richard Searcy. On Elevenpoint River before 1815 were William Looney, William Meredith, Massach H. Jones, John Miller, James Hallock, and the Mcilroy and Stubblefield families. On Janes Creek were John Janes, Lot Davis, and up near the state line WiIIiam O'Neal, Obediah Hudson and Shadrach Nettles. Henry Schoolcraft passed through Randolph County in 1819 and stopped at the village of Fourche de Thomas and in his writ-

[l 11 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY ten report stated that he was amazed at the many improved £.arms in· this section at that time. The early Luttrell;· Duck­ worth, McElmurry, Winningham, Slavens, Shaver and other families were represented in Cherokee Bay before I 820. The Eldridge family, Ators, ·cross, Grissom, Robinson, Dalton and others were living in what is now Siloam township near this period. · It is impossible to list all the very first familits who settled in Randolph County, even if they were known. And it must be remembered by the reader and historian that in any section the great handicap in learning who were there early is the lack of written records, and also, even though records are in existence, many of ·the early settlers led a quiet life apart from their neighbors, and unless they made some sort of_ legal transaction or were identified with some of the early activities, their name may never appear in the annals of the f~rst quarter of a century _of settlement. In the family his­ tories of this book and in the articles dealing with the dif­ ferent towns and settlements many of the above persons and others not named above will be listed. The aim of the writer, in this chapter, is to give the reader a brief but general list of the names appearing in the records for the first twenty-five years after the opening of the century (1800).

[12] GENERAL HISTORY

FIRST COURT IN RANDOLPH COlJNTY The first court held in Lawrence County, before· the formation of Randolph, was held in what is now Randolph County. This court was held in April, 1815, at the home of Solomon Hewitt, on the east side of Spring River about two miles above the mouth of Elevenpoint. This lan_d is no,v owned by Albert Davis and Eugene Mccarroll. This is supposed to have been the· first actual term of court· con- vened in Arkansas. · This court was held in the house which has been pictured in one or two Arkansas histories and in numerous newspapers and called the "first courthouse at Davidsonville." This is an

.: /2\i:< <.· ..·. .·>i,>. f ~4;f&!li§h

"HOUSE OF JAMES G. RUSSELL" Fint.aaual Randolph County court held here in 1837.

error. The courthouse at Davidsonville was a two-story brick. The first trial was her-ween Thomas Graves and James Had­ dock over the ownership of some hogs. The grand jury was composed of Jess Jeffrey (foreman), George Grant, William

(13] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Compton, Sam Russell, John Bollinger, Thomas Morris, Asa Lausacum, Culbert Hudson, Sam Wilson, John Walker, John Lafferty, Nat Robbins, William Caraway, Robert Cravens, William Stubblefield, William Webb, Edward McDonald and William Hix. The petit jury was made up of the following: Joseph Hardin, James Kuykendall, Robert Rollins, William D. Holt, ·william Cravens,· Sol Carter, Frederick Keel, Richard Mur­ phy and William Robertson. Richard Thomas, who was the presiding judge for the southern district of Missouri, was the judge. James Camp­ bell was sheriff, Lewis DeMunn was clerk (DeMunn resigned in 1816 and Richard Searcy was appointed). John Rodney was surveyor and G. W. Wright was assessor. The sheriff · was required to give bond (as collector) for an amount twice ·the anticipated revenue for the year. The· bond was for $150.00 and is still in existence in the vault at Powhatan. This was the only term of court held at the home of Solomon Hewitt. The next was held at "the new house of Richard Murphy." After this the county seat had been located at Davidsonville. For an account of the establishing of the county seat at Davidsonville, see chapter of the establishment of that town elsewhere in this· book. The above was an account of the first court of old Law­ rence County. Randolph has the distinction of po~ing the site of the first court of two counties, Lawrence and.of · Rand9lph County proper, after it. was·:-organized. ,,.Th~.Jirst : court- held in the county after its organization was held at the home of James G. Russell, eight miles north of Pocahontas, on what was long known as the old Foster farm, now owned by Max Riggs. The date of convening was April 4, 1836. On the first page of book one of the records (county court) is this entry: "The judge did not appear; court adjourned until : tomorrow morning.. " The next day the judge was present and the first term of Randolph County court was convened.

[14] GENERAL HISTORY

Peyton R. Pitman, for whom the village of Pitman and Pitman's Ferry was named, was the judge. His associate justices at this term were William Rice, the first resident of Warm Springs, Joseph Spikes, Benjamin Janes, and James Cooper. The first business transacted was the appointment of Jesse Spikes as constable for Columbia township, Jacob W. Shaver as constable for Current River township, George Glasscock as constable for Roanoke township and James Houston as constable for Demon. The next business was the approving of the bond of \Vil• liam Black as sheriff and James Cooper as surveyor. James G. Russell was allowed ten dollars for advertising the election in· 1835. In addition to the above, numerous citizens were appointed to mark out roads or were appointed as overseers for the various roads already marked out. This was the first term of county court in the county. The first term of circuit court that was held in the county was held May 31, 1837, with Lewis B. Tulley as cir• cuit judge. The following men were members of the first grand jury: George B. Croft, William Jarrett, William Spikes, Samuel Jordon, Ruben Rice, John Mansker, Fielden Stubblefield, William Marshall, Walter G. Hogan, John \\Telch, James Bigger, Isaac Blount, Lewis Edwards~ John Shaver, Edward Mattix, James Luttrell, Amos Lively, Daniel Plott and Joseph Spikes. The first petit jury was composed of the following: Isham F. Alcorn, Lemi Evans, J~ Gray, Charles Hatcher, Jacob Shaver, Wiiliam Crabtree, Isaac McDonald, William Mitch­ ell, Charles Thompson, Isaac Everet~ Daniel Lieb, and Wil­ liam Adair. Evans and Crabtree were fined for not appear­ ing as jurymen after being summoned. The majority of the first cases tried in this court were for assault and battery and gambling. The charge for gambling was entered on the record as "Betting at seven-up" in most cases, although a few were listed as "betting at a game called

[151 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY three-up." Thomas Johnson was the first prosecuting attor­ ney. An interesting thing to be noted in the record of the first and second terms of Randolph County Circuit Court was the frequent appearance of the names of the leading citizens of that -day on the docket. It seems that even though they occupied places of prominence in their communities and were often situated in responsible positions, they did not fail to defend the~r side of the questions involved, even to the extent of being hauled into court and charged with "assault and battery" and "creating an affray." The people who lived a hundred years ago were, of necessity, of the rough-and-ready type who often scorned conventional things and were not much for formality, relying a lot on impulses and looking at things for their true worth and nothing else. Of the above list of the first grand and petit jurors who served in 1837, twenty-four of the names are still represented in Randolph County at the present time.

THE OLD MILITARY ROAD

What has been known as the "Old Military Road" for many years is that old road which entered Randolph County from l\fis.5ouri at Pitman's Ferry and ran by way of Supply, Maynard, Attica, old Jackson and across Spring River into La:\vrence County. This old road was first known as the Natchitoches Trail and had been used by the Indians from time immemorial in their travels from the north to the south and from the east to the west, as the route runs in a north­ eastern-southwestern direction. The route is a natural loca­ tion for a road. It ran closely along the foothills of the Oz.arks from the north to the south and is above the early flooded lowlands but near enough to be accessible to the Indian and ,vi.Id animals to travel in going to and from the higher lands to the north,vest. After the coming of the ,vhite man the road was a general route of travel from St. Louis by way of the old French settle-

[16] GENERAL HISTORY ment of St. Genevieve to the southwest, across Arkansas into Texas and Mexico. Evidently it was used by early hunters and traders soon after the close of the Revolution. Soine of the hardy pioneers of the east desired to explore the great· unknown wilderness of the Mississippi Valley. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 quite a number of these people brought their families and settled in this section. Many years before this a road had been opened from the east to St. Gene­ vieve, on the l\1ississippi south of St. Louis. The Military road is an extension of this road. Around 1800 a ferry was established at ,vhat is now Pitman by \Villiam Hix and was known as Hix's Ferry. This is ample proof that the old road was being used by enough travellers to make a ferry a profit­ able undertaking. A fe,v years later the ferry was purchased, together with the farm, by P. R. Pitman, who later became the first county judge of Randolph County, and was known thereafter as Pitman's Ferry. About this time the route became known as the National road, but when Congress began to spend money to improve these frontier roads to be used for military purposes it became to be kno,vn as the HMilitary Road." The first quarter of a century after this road and others like it were opened, there was no ,vork done on them except what the travellers did as they went along. Sometimes they ,vere changed as the conditions required, and as settlements gre-\v up on or near them. On March 2, 1831, Congress appropriated $15,000 to be used "on the road from Washington, Arkansas Territory, to Jackson in said Territory." On July 3, 1832~ $20,000 more ,vas set aside for this purpose. On February 24, 1835, another appropriation was made by Congr~ for work to be_ done on the old Military road. Lieut. R. D. C. Collins and· Thomas _Baker· ,vere given the contract to improve that part within the present Randolph County. The price for the work is recorded as follo,vs "From Jack.son to Elevenpoint, $14.00 per mile; from Elevenpoint to Fourche de Thomas, $18.75

[171 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY per mile; from Fourche,de Thomas to the Missouri state line, $8.50 per mile." The present bridge at_ what is now known as the Foster Ford on Fourche creek i:S ~e third bridge at that point. This is the old Military CTOS-$ing. The first two bridges were of wood. This is the old "Columbia" or "Fourche de Thomas" settlement (more ~l~ --~ said about this place later) . The next crossing was on Elevenpoint River and a ferry was estab­ lished here also. This ferry was established in 1815 or soon thereafter by David Bl~ck and is still known as Black's Ferry. The crossing on Spring River was at the place known in later years as the Miller Ford. Some of the early maps show the road -going by way of Davidsonville. The first road which was really the original Natchitoches trail did go by Davidsonville, but the road known and recognized as the National road or Southwest Trail and finally as the old Military road did not go by this, Randolph County's first postoffice. The lack of ferrying facilities and the flood plain on the south and ,vest side of Davidsonville made it in a very hard spot to be located on an early road. Many noted persons have travelled down this old road in the past century and a half, besides all the grand old pioneers who lived a life of usefulness "unhonored and unsung:· Among the notables were Sam Houston, David Crockett, Gen­ eral. John C. Fremont, Henry R. Schoolcraft, Nuttall the explorer; Moses Austin, his son, Stephen Austin, later to be known as the "Father of Texas"; Gen. Archibald Yell, Gov. James S. Conway, James Woodson Bates, Gen. Sterling Price, Gen.-Joe Shelby, President U.S. Grant and many others. The first mail route in the state of Arkansas was over this route. -Some. historians say the route ran from St. Louis to Monroe, Louisiana, by way of Pitman, Fourche de Thomas (Colum­ bia), Davidsonville~ Polk Bayou (Batesville) and to Arkan­ sas ,Post. Houck's History of Southeast Missouri states that

[18] GENERAL HISTORY

~email was first carried from Harrisonville, Illinois, by way -of Potosi-and Fredericktown, Mo., Pitman, Columbia and Davidsonville to stop at Batesville. This latter route· evi­ dently~ was of a later date than the St. Louis-Arkansas Post route. Brit at any rate both came through Randolph County and furnish_ed mail to the county's first postoffices, Fourche de Thomas (Columbia) and Davidsonville, and possibly Pitman. After the decline of Davidsonville in 1829 ,vhen the 'county seat (of old Lawrence County) was moved to Jack.son, a "few miles northwest of the old tow·n, the road was discon­ tinued by Davidsonville to take the route described above. This mail was carried on horseback once a month. Taverns were built along the old _road and many weary travellers, in the years after the road became well established, rested their weary aodies inside the walls of these buildings which were the forerunner of the modern hotel, or actually more like the tourist courts along our modern highways. From 1820 until the turn of the present century hundreds of families per year travelled over this old road in their trek south and west. Dr. Englemann, a noted German scientist who traveled this road from St. Louis to Little Rock in March, 1837, tells of spend­ ing one night and two days at Columbia (Fourche de Thomas) at the home of David Plott, waiting for the high water to run down. He states in his diary of the trip that several families of immigrants were detained. at the same time and that in their haste to get across some of them drove their teams and wagons into the stream and the wagons were over­ turned by the swift current. Many travellers from the- east ,vho had actually started to Texas or farther west, upon reaching this section decided to stop here and make it their home. This accounts in part for the fact that this section of the state was settled before that farther west and south. A fe,v pushed on, and not finding what they wanted, came back arid settled here. The first telegraph line to run through northeast Arkansas was strung along the old Military road. Only a few years ago a man

[19] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY living out northeast of Maynard told the writer about cutting a tree which had one of the old insulators imbedded in its trunk. A branch of the Military road was opened in the early thi.ties from Jac~son west, by way of Smithville and other points to Fayetteville. This is the road over which the Indians ,vere taken in the removal from their home east of the Mis­ sissippi to the Indian Territory which is now the western part of Oklahoma. \Ve have all heard of the hardships, cruelty and suffering borne by these Redmen at the hands of· the Government agents who contracted to move them. They ,vere paid sufficiently to have transported them in comfort and safety but the story persists that they were unscrupulous, hard-hearted fellows who drove them on, through bad weather, sickness, etc., which resulted in many deaths ·and much suffering. · · If it were possible to project on a movie screen the vast panorama which moved along the old Military road during the years from 1820 until 1890, we would see depicted _bef91e us one of the greatest living dramas of all ages. · ·

l20J GENERAL HISTORY

O'"fHER EARLY ROADS

Besides the old Military road described above, there were several other roads opened in Randolph County during the first years of settlement. On date of July 4, 1836, James Houston and Ransom Bettis reported to the county court t_hat they had view·ed the route from the west end of Broad­ way in the town of Pocahontas west seven miles to Black's Ferry,. and recommended that this was the most practical route from Pocahontas to this ferry. On this same date, John Boran, John Gullett and Daniel Plott were appointed to review the road from Stephen Eld­ ridge's on Fourche at the Missouri state line over the most practical route towt!rds Pocahontas "until it intersects the old road from Dr. Pitman's to Davidsonville,,, near the residence of Andrew Kelly (later at Daniel Plott"s) . Ben Janes, Coleman Stubblefield and Joseph Spikes were appointed to ·1ay out a road from the road between Cal Stubblefield's and the Spring Island ford on Elevenpoint, over the most direct route to the bridge on Fourche Dumas creek, on the Military road. All this was in July, 1836. The next year a petition was filed by a number of citizens to the court, requesting that a road be opened from the ferry on Black River at Pocahontas down the east side of the river toward Litchfield, to the Lawrence County line. This road became later to be known as the Pocahontas-Jacksonport road. The first road mentioned above was what became known as the Smithville road and possibly earlier ,vas the Black's Ferry road. The road from Stephen Eldridge's to the ~{ilitary road was the old road which ran down the west side of Fourche creek and was later known as the old Belvie,v road, although the route was changed in part in later years. This old road crossed the Military road a short distance ,vest of the old Foster ford (or Fourche de Thomas military cross­ ing) and ran on south to Pocahontas, coming into the road

[21] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH-COUNTY now travelled out of Pocahontas to the north exactly between the forks of the Warm Springs and Maynard road. This old road ran out by way of the· old Kibler farm, the old- Biggers farm on up across Mud creek at the "Dock Ingram ford~" This is the old road which this writer travelled in coming to Pocahontas from· western Siloam township when a child. The road from Elevenpoint to Fourche bridge on the Military road was later replaced by a road which ran more directly east and west. It was located a few miles north of this road and was known as the Warm Springs-Coming road and crossed Fourche at the Phipps Mill ford. The old Thomasville road, for which Thomasville Ave­ nue in Pocahontas was named, ran from Pocahon~ to Thomasville in Oregon County, Missouri. Its route was on the east side of Elevenpoint River. The very first road which· ran up Elevenpoint travelled near this route but the road which connects Warm Springs and Pocahontas at the present time was used a great lot during the early days in travelling from the "Irish Wilderness" country on upper Fourche creek into Randolph County. Another old-time road ran down Janes creek to Ravenden Springs over much the same route that the present-day road travels. At one time, about the middle of the last century, the mail was carried from Doni­ phan by ,vay of Dry Springs (which was a postoffice on the state line between Poynor, Missouri, and Middlebrook, Arkansas) across the hills to Janes' store on Janes creek, according to an old mail route record. Just how the route ran is not known. It possibly rail by way of the old Fourche de Thomas postoffice or the old Mud creek postoffice, which. was on the old Mock homestead, and then across the hills to near the present tovm of Ravenden Springs. The 1836 term of Randolph County court licensed Ranson Bettis to operate a ferry at Pocahontas ($2.00 per year) , Peyton R. Pjtman at Pitman's ferry ($5.00 per year) , and Thoinas Black at Black's ferry ($2.00 per year) . The fee charged ,vould suggest that there was a lot more business at Pitman

[221 - GENERAL HISTORY than at either of the- other· ferries. This was possibly caused by the heavy stream of emigrants ,vho were moving over the old Military road on their long journey from the older states to the east and north· to Texas, what is now Oklahoma and also the southern part ·of this state. Operating a ferry was one of the first industries in this section. We hear a lot at the present time about getting money from the tourist trade. The old river ferrymen of a century ago were the first to cash in on this source of revenue. However, the traveller of today is usually out on a business or pleasure trip, but the old pioneer largely niade only a "one-way drive." He travelled over the road one time to stop at the end of the way, to estab­ lish a home for his family and live the remainder of his days at that end of the line. The part played by the early roads of our nation cannot be overestimated. Their importance and the stories and traditions associated with them almost make them ribbons of sacred soil criss-crossing our country, through low lands and over hill and dale.

EARLY LINES OF TRANSPORTATION

The very first white man who came into this section of the nation, together with his family and possessions, came either by boat or overland in covered wagon. The easiest way to bring merchandise or household goods was to travel by flatboat. The routes usually follo,ved was do,vn the Ohio, theri into the Mississippi. This built up such early settle­ ments on the river as St Genevieve, Cairo, Ne,v Madrid and others. With the coming of the steamboat they did not stop altogether on the Mwissippi, but ran their boats up the smaller rivers. During the first days of settlement of Ran­ dolph County, Davidsonville was the chief river town in north Arkansas. Steamboats from the Mississippi River ports came here with merchandise for the settlers. Pocahontas became an early steamboat landing and many boats went on up Black River several miles and up Current River as far

[23] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY as the "Drew Farm" in Cherokee Bay, which was the present site of Biggers. Here Thomas Drew lived during the time he was county judge of Lawrence County and at the time he was elected Governor of Arkansas. Steamboats plied the rivers regularly until the coming of the first railroads. In later years, boats ran up Current and Black rivers much far­ ther than stated above. In fact, since the writer can remem­ ber, boats came up Current River to Johnstontown on the river just west of the present town of Reyno and loaded bales of cotton bound for New Orleans and other southern ports. Tall stories of adventures and hardships of the early rivermen are a part of the literature of the nineteenth century. The rivers at that time were full of hidden dangers for the boat­ man. Snags, hidden rocks and shifting sandbars ,vere often s.udden death to proud rivercraft. In deed record number three of Randolph County is recorded the sinking of the river steamer u]ulia Dean" in Black River fifteen miles below Pocahontas on April 30, 1853. Much valuable cargo was destroyed. The boat was on its way up the river to Poca­ hontas from Memphis. It had been making regular trips between these ports. Samuel Taylor was Master, S. D. Han­ cock was clerk, and Morgan Bateman was pilot. There was a rule in those days for the owners of the boat to carry cargo insurance, but if it could be proven by the insurance com­ pany that the boat's crew was negligent when fire or sinkings destroyed the cargo, the liability rested on the owner of the boat. On page 13 l of this record is to be found a "protest to obtain insurance.,,, for this loss. The location on the river where this sinking occurred ninety-three years ago is still known as the Julia Dean bar. The first steamboat known to have come up Black River ,vas the steamer Laurel, which came in 1829. Some of th~ later boats were the Fairy Queen, Clara Inman, Hope, Mil­ tharry, Bragg and Black Diamond. The writer remembers seeing some furniture several years ago ,rith a tag tacked on it which stated "shipped on the steamer Hope ..,,,

[24] GENERAL HISTORY

As soon as the early traiJs were blazed out many settlers came in overland. The chief disadvantage of river transporta­ tion was that often it did not go ,vhere the traveller desired to go. To take care of this he cut out overland trails. The oldest trail to come into Randolph County is what is now known as the old Military road which entered the county from the north at Pitman's Ferry and ran toward the south­ west by way of Maynard, Columbia Garrett), old Jackson and into Lawrence County near Imboden. (Much more will be said about this old road in a special chapter.) Two other old roads came down through the center of the county and ,vere known as the Belview and Thomasville roads in later years. Principally all the early settlers of the county came here either overland on the old Military road or up Black River in an early steamboat. Most of those who came by boat settled at Davidsonville and around the mouth of Eleven- point and Spring River. The rest of the county, especially the northeastern section, came in over the old road. This road was opened around 1800 and made Randolph County accessible to those pioneers pushing westward, at an earlier date than the counties farther south and west. Travel over these early trails was slow and hard. Often it was necessary· to almost make a road as they went along. Streams had to be crossed, and when a large one was reached a raft had to be built which sometimes took days to construct. Camps had to be set up and breakdowns and sickness often happened on the way. i\tliles and miles of unbroken forests greeted the traveller and many long and lonesome nights were spent out under Goers broad canopy of stars, amid the howls of wild animals and the knowledge that he was hundreds of miles from the home of his father's and with miles and miles of tortuous trail ahead of him. This early pioneer was truly to be compared with John of old. He prepared the way that those ,vho came later might travel. And the wife and mother of this pioneer deserves much more credit than she has ever been accorded. It was she who made it possible for such movements in the long journey of man's upward climb to be accomplished. [25] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

EARLY SOCIAL AND RELIGIOUS LIFE

We often think of the life of the pioneer as being drab and monotonous. This would likely be true if we, of the present day, should be forced to live in the environment and surroundings which our grandparents lived. But they invented for themselves various ,vays and means of enter­ tainment. We have heard more about the old time square dance or "hoe down," as it was often called. Most of the old­ time ministers frowned upon it as a pastime, but to the majority of the inhabitants it was a genuine pleasure and afforded the chief source of public entertainment. When we look back upon the manner in ,vhich it ,vas carried on we doubt very much if it could be classed with the modern dance, from a moral standpoint. To the majority who indulged, it afforded a wholesome, harmless sort of pleasure. The majority of girls who attended these old-time dances ,vere "nice girls" and were highly respected and commanded respect and courtesy which ,vas always accorded them, or their escort or one of the family pulled off his coat, rolled up his sleeves and proceeded to correct the matter. No one ever saw ·a lady drunk or heard her use the sort of language which we hear today. Smoking among the womenfolk ,vas confined to the grandmothers ,vith their old clay pipes. The dancing of that day was generally carried on at the home of one of the inhabitants of the "neighborhoo

[26] GENERAL HISTORY job the best or the fastest. All this was diversification for the folks who spent long lonely days in and around the log cabin .in the small "clearing" in the woods, many miles from the nearest neighbor. Church "socials," pie suppers, box suppers and other forms of entertainment were sponsored by the church, both for amusement and as a means of securing money to pay expenses. The schools did much the same way. "Exhibitions" were staged. Debating societies were organized and spelling and ciphering matches were held. All these afforded both. entertainment and valuable educational training. There were other forms of entertainment which ,vere both bene­ ficial and monotony breaking for those who lived in Ran­ dolph County during the century which came to a close about the beginning of World \Var I. The above constitutes a brief picture-of the pioneer activ­ ities which would be classed as social. Religious activities of that day afforded another kind of diversification. ,ve do not desire to appear sacriligious when we say that one of the major reasons for the organization of many churches during the early days was for the purpose of affording the settler, especially the young folks, "somewhere to go." It is a ,vell known fact that people are going to go "somewhere." This is especially true of the younger folks. The pioneer "meet­ ing house" helped solve this problem. The church building of the early days ·was really a com­ munity building. It usually served the purpose of both schoolhouse and church building. It was also the scene of all other religio~s and social gatherings. It ,vas also used as a place to hold elections, political speakings, etc. But this old-time meeting house is best remembered as the place where the "big meeting," or revival ,vas held. Once a month preaching was held. Along through the year and in some of the places Sunday school met regularly, but to many the major use was for the two or three weeks revival which

[27] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY was generally held "after crops were laid by." This was sometime during the months of July or August. The preacher, which was mostly of the "circuit rider" type, rode into the neighborhood some Saturday afternoon and services began that night and each night, and sometimes each day for some time. Here the plain unvarnished Gospel was fervently poured out of the mouth of the more or less "educated" man of God. What he lacked in Scriptural knowledge he made up in enthusiasm and religious fervor. People came in for miles around, on foot, in wagons and on horseback. On Sun­ day there was dinner on the ground. If he had accomplished his mission to a very great extent, there were several bap­ tizings, at the most convenient creek. There was some divi­ sion as to the teachings of the Seri ptures, but most everyone attended and strong congregations were built up whose influ~ ence lives unto this day. Some congregations held camp meetings which lasted several days. At these meetings the folks came and stayed for days. The pioneer preacher was often: poorly paid. When he was paid it was usually in farm products, etc. But it can be said to the everlasting honor and credit of this early man of God, he did his work for his Master and then found out what he was to receive in return, where, as it is with the modem preacher, he generally has to be guaranteed a certain sum or he does not serve. This is not true of all of our present-day ministers, but it is true of too many. The good work done by the pioneer preacher has never been fully appreciated. He was truly like John of old, "He came forth to prepare a way for we who came later to follow."

[281 GENERAL HISTORY

EARLY \VATER MILLS

\Vater furnished the power for the first mills in the pioneer settlements. A few sawmills were operated by water­ po,ver but this kind of power was more commonly used in operating burrs for grinding grain and for ginning cotton. ·ro install a ,vatermill it was necessary to build a dam across the stream and then install a ",vheel and shaft" to produce this power. Some of the waterwheels ,vere of the "overshot" type which ran the water to the top of a large wheel with boxes or cups to catch the water which started the wheel to turning by the weight of the water in the boxes as they revolved on the shaft, and came back around for refilling. The very oldest mills were built this way. Later mills were built with the. power shaft upright and the power was pro. duced by water from "flood gates" striking against a series of paddles built around the shaft like the spokes of a wheel. This power box and flood gate was built at the bottom of the dam and produced much more power, due to the pressure of the ,vater in the mill pond behind the dan1. Along all the larger creeks and rivers can be seen the ruins of the old dams. The first one built in the county was built by Lewis DeMunn and his brothers, nvo miles belo,v Pocahontas on what is still known as ··l\fill Creek," in 1822. The old stone abutments and some of the old logs can still be seen. The writer regrets that we do not have a complete list of all these old mill sites but belo,v ·we name some of them. One of the most noted, and possibly the last one, to cease operation was the old mill at Birdell. Built sometime during the first half of the past century, it was operated for half a century or more by John Carter. The Carters \\'ere related to the Perrins, Scotts and other families of this section. ~\bout 1880 Joseph Hufstedler purchased this mill and for" over forty years it was known as the Hufstedler mill. Other mills ,vere built on Elevenpoint River. This stream was

[29] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY especially well suited for the erection of mill dams as the banks are generally steep and the water swift. Lewis Dalton erected a watermill at Dalton about 1870 and ground grain and ginned cotton many years. Another very old mill site is at Brockett. It is listed on the road records of 1836 as "Ford's Mill" (was later known as Bollinger's mill), and it is said that there ,vas once a three-story roller _mill at this site. On Fourche de Mas were located a number of early water­ mills. Among them was the old Dalton mill, the old Keel mill, both just over the line in Missouri, Old Cedarville, just north of Middlebrook. The old stone burrs which were on display in the log cabin which used to stand on the Poca­ hontas fair ground ,vere from the old Cedarville mill. The late Uncle Chas. G. Johnston had it moved here. .Another Fourche watermill was at Phipp's ford. It was in operation until about 1914. On Mud creek, at what is now the Price farm, was the Dock Ingram mill which was in operation for many years prior to 1900. The writer's grand­ father operated a blacksmith shop here while my father was a boy at home. I have often heard the story told about an incident ,vhich happened at the shop. My grandfather was a very jovial man and sometimes carried his jokes possibly too far. Th~ story goes that the late Uncle Tive Mock brought an axe into the shop which had "bursted" on one side of the "eye" and asked grandfather if he couldn't "lay" it some 1vay. (The term "lay"' was a process of welding one layer of metal over a break to bring the two parts together.) Grand­ father looked the axe over and seeing that it was badly worn and hard to repair walked to the door of the shop and threw it far out into the mill pond. Turning to Uncle Tive, he remarked, "Tive that's the best way to 'lay' that axe that I know." - As stated above, we do not have a complete list of all the old mills which were built along the streams of Randolph County, as they were our first manufacturing plants.

[30] GENERAL HISTORY

._ The horsepower grist mill which John Janes operated on Janes' creek before 1822 was converted into a wate~~ll in later years. Another, though later, on Janes' creek was the old Woodyard mill near where Ora Bailey- now resides. W.W. Bailey, who dreamed of the famous Ravenden spring, oper­ ated a watermill on Janes' creek, a mile and one-half south of Ravenden Springs before 1880. It ,vas at first a corn mill grinding only meal and feed, but later it ,vas enlarged and "bolts" were added, making it a flour mill as well. The farmer carried his wheat to these ancient mills and paid "toll" to get it ground. He received back in place of the wheat some flour, also "shorts" and "middlings" which ,vas separated from the white center of the grain. This "mid­ dlings" was sometimes also used to make bread. It produced a dark loaf, somewhat like graham bread, and was very nour­ ishing, although it didn't look too good. Another early mill was the Johnson mill on Elevenpoint River. The story goes that the mill was small and ground very slowly. The opera~or would pour a bushel of corn into the hopper and go out in the field and work around a half day while the corn was being ground. One day he heard a dog barking at intervals in the vicinity of the mill. Thinking that someone might be bothering something, he decided to go see about it. Upon arriving at the mill he discovered that the dog was eating the meal as it ran out into the large wooden bowl placed there to receive it, and that he ate faster than the mill ground, and that he was barking for more when enough failed to run out. Some of the first towns· of the nation grew up from the site of an old watermill. Some early settler who lived on a stream ,vhich had a site suitable for the building of a dam. would do so, and install a mill. He may have been far back in the woods to begin with, but as his neighbors came to his mill a road would be opened up and the place become ,vell known. Next probably would be a blacksmith shop. The settler ,vould have his plo,vs sharpened or his horse shod

[311 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY while he waited for his hturn" at the mill. Another enter­ prising neighbor would see that this should be a good "trad­ ing place" and would open up a trading post and carry the kinds of merchandise that the folks who came to the mill and the blacksmith shop w(juld buy. Such is the story of the origin of towns and cities. Another type of early power, although not water power as the title of this chapter suggests, was "horsepower." This is the origin of the term used today in measuring the power of all kinds of engines. There were different methods used to utilize horsepower. The sorghum mill method which caused the horse to travel in a circle, while a system of cog­ wheels increased the speed to the operating shaft. Another method was the treadmill. This sort of power was made pos­ sible by the stepping of the animals on a moving platform which was made to move because it was an incline which was a part of a large circular wheel or endless belt. The animal "walked all day but went nowhere." This was the old-time treadtnill. Often yokes of oxen furnished the power instead of horses. Many of the early inland cotton gins were operated with this kind of power. John Janes operated a horsepower grist mill on Janes creek before 1822. A flour mill was in operation on the Russell place about 1830, and Elijab Dalton and others operated a cotton gin at Warm Springs as late as 1880, on the treadmill plan. Many other horsepower mills were located in various places. All the first threshing machines which travelled over the country from farm to farm threshing the grain were horsepower, before ·the steam traction engine came into use in this section. The first steam engines to be used in this county were the stationary type. A firebox of stone or brick was built and the boiler placed UJX>n it. Some of the first industrial casualties of the country were victims of early steam boiler explosions.

[321 GENERAL HISTORY

EARLY CHURCHES OF THE COUNTY

Much has been said in the chapters dealing with the separate communities of the county concerning the early preachers. In _relating the activities of these early men of God we have also been obliged to mention the places in which they carried on their work. But in doing this we do not feel that we have given the· locations of the first churches enough prominence. In this article we will touch briefly upon this subject, and, of course, in doing so there will be some repetition of a portion of information already recorded in the book elsewhere. As has been stated before, the old church which was established at the old Fourche de Thomas, or Columbia settlement, known as "Salem Church," was the first Baptist church in the state. It was established in 1818. The first Methodist church in the county was built by William Spikes on Tennessee creek a short distance south­ west of the present-day Ingram postoffice and called Mount Pisgah. The first building was of rough, unhe,ved poles and had a rock chimney at the end of the building. It is supposed to have been built around 1830. About ten years later Mr. Spikes built a large he,ved log house close to the site of the first one and this building was used for many years as both a church and school. The third Mount Pisgah was built about 1885, just west of the present-day Spikes' cemetery. Jesse Spikes donated the site, James Hum made the boards to cover the house, and a majority of the citizens of the neighborhood contributed time or money in the job of building it. The old Methooist church at Siloam was built about 1840. A special article about this old church appears in this book, so we refer you to this article for further information regarding this place.

[33] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Not far from the same year, the Glaze Creek Church of Christ was established. A special article about this old church also appears elsewhere in this book. Information is meager regarding the establishment of many other early churches in the county. Various churches and congregations have laid claim to being the first in the county or first in their respective neighborhood, but it is often very difficult for the historian who desires to secure as nearly accurate information as possible to decide which is actually correct. The Mount Pleasant church at Pitman is reputed to have been established about 1825. There had been people living in this community around twenty years at that time, so it is likely that this is true. This was and still is a Missionary Baptist church. Another early church of the county was the Cherokee Bay church. This old church was described in the early records as being a "United Baptist Church of Christ." Eld. Sherrod \Vinningham was ordained to preach for this church, June 7, 1834. There is a division of opinion as to just ,vhere the old church was actually located. It is likely that it was near the town of Old Reyno. There was an old "Round Track,. church there in later years which may have been the old Cherokee Bay church. During the early days there was an old church at the Hite cemetery. The old building standing in the cemetery at present is built from the logs of this old church, which was also used as a school. There ,vas an early church in that sec. tion known as Union church. It was sponsored by Daniel Duckworth who lived just north of the present site of the M~issippi River Fuel Corporation pumping station. This church later became known as the "Yellow Hall." This church was established sometime about 1835 or 1840. although it may not have o,vned a building for some years.

[34] GENERAL HISTORY

Henry Slavens, who was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention from Randolph County in 1836, was ordained to preach at this church by Elders Henry McElmurry and Winningham, December 4, 1836. The story of the first church activities in the Palestine­ Ingram community is told in a special article. This com­ munity was one of the early strongholds of the early Church of Christ, as is told in that article. There was probably an organized congregation meeting at the homes in that com­ munity as early as 1825. The old Antioch Baptist church which is located between Ingram and Hamil was organized sometime about 1850. The early records show that Samuel Reed was ordained to preach here May 20, 1859, by the church. There is no more known of this church until it ,vas reorganized in 1873. On August 30 of that year a deed was made to the church by Surridge and Fisher for the property. Not far from this place was another old church. On April 11, 1868, \Villiam F. Roach deeded the tract of land at what is now the Roach cemetery to the United Baptist church. As is recorded elsewhere in this book, one of the first churches in the northeastern part of the county was built by Eld. Zera Allen of the Church of Christ, to be used both as a church and school. This building was used for many years. It stood on land located in section ten, township twenty-one, two east, and ,vas deeded to the old Allen School district number two by Zera and Ernaline Allen, April 6, 1871. Zera Allen is the grandfather of \V. R. Allen of Supply at present. Another old Church of Christ is the Hubble Creek church in the southwestern part of the county. Andrew Pace deeded the land for a church, September I, 1868. It had been a more or less active church since 1852, the year it ,vas first established. This and the Noland church are made up of the

[35] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTr same families. John M. Lemmons is said to have been the first preacher here. There is also an -old Catholic church in this community, the only one in the county outside of Pocahontas and Engle­ berg. It ,vas-- established sometime in the eighties and was built by- the German families which settled here about the same time of the settlement at Engleberg. The Catholic church at Engleberg was established about this same period. Our information -is that Isaac DeBow and Tony \Veisenbach were among the persons who were influ­ ential in the establishment of the church. The churches at Ravenden Springs have been mentioned in the article about the village. There was a Methodist church organized at Walnut Hill before the former town came into existence. James Janes deeded land to _this church in December, 1875. · Robert Marlin deeded the ground where the present-day Pentecostal church is located in the Blackwell community to the Methodist churc~ November 23, 1875. It was then called Mount Vernon. Thomas S. Simington deeded the land where the Attica Methodist church stands to that church, March 9, 1881. George W. Hibbard deeded the land where the Baptist church, known as Oak. Grove, to that church January 16, 1882. The present Church of Christ at Brakebill, two miles ,vest of Middlebrook, was built here in 1930, but the original Bra~ebill church ,vas organized about 1875, about a mile and· one-half south,vest of the present site. The first meeting place was in the old log house near the spring at the school­ house. The first members ,vere the late Uncle Johnny Wil­ son, Uncle Billy Patton and others. Another old church site of the county is Bethany, on Janes creek, above Ravenden Springs. Our information is

[36] GENERAL HISTORY that the first church here· was a Missionary Baptist church, built in the seventies. After several years they m~~ed to Yadkin, a few miles up the creek, and the Church of Christ built a building near this site, which is in use today by the latter church. The English, Higginbotham, Rogers, Kellett, Marriott, James, Davis, Bailey and other families reside in this community, and members of these families are identified with both churches. · The Shiloh Baptist church, five miles northwest of Poca­ hontas, was organized about 1875 by Rev. J. R. Pratt and others and is in a community which was settled around 1830. There is a likelihood that there was a church in this com­ munity many years before this church was organized. Early records show that the Shiloh, Antioch and Cherokee Bay churches joined the Bethel Association in 1857. So this tends to prove that there were earlier churches of these names before the present ones were built. There are several "lost" congregations, or old churches, their location of which is not known. We know that there was a "Rum's Chapel," an "Indian Lake" and a "Hopewell" church in Randolph County in the early days. The Indian Lake is supposed to be the old Cherokee Bay church. This is not definitely known. The records show that Isom Amos was ordained to preach at Hopewell in 1858. There are sev­ eral others not known to the author which are kno,rn locally. We regret that we do not know· the names of each dead and existing church that has ever been in the county.

There was a Janes Creek Church of Christ in existence in 1840.- The records show that Eld. Samuel H. NfcCullah preached here and also Daniel Rose. Eld. McCullah married Sarah Alcorn in 1840. There is an entry on the records of December 4, 1842, where McCullah asked the church "on Fourche de lvias" for permission to preach at that church. Two of the elders of that church were \V. Kellett and B. States.

[37] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

There was a "County Line Baptist Church of Christ" somewhere in Randolph County before the Civil War. Levi Roberts, J. H. Leftchurch and \Villiam Martin were mem­ bers. There is a possibility that this church may have been on the Sharp County line, somewhere along the western side of Randolph. On September 29, 1850, William Jones was ordained to preach at Concord church in Randolph County. The exact location of this church is not known. There is supposed to have been a Spring River Baptist church at Old Jackson during the existence of the town, and possibly for several years afterward. The author is well aware that there are other early churches which we have missed in this chapter. Possibly most of them are named here or in the stories of the towns or communities, but the reader must bear in mind that ,ve have intended to name only those churches which have been established around fifty years or more. And in seeking infor­ mation that is from one hundred down to fifty years old is no easy task. But since writing the above we note that we have_ over­ looked the old church at Birdell. Once known as Old Union, on the west side of Elevenpoint, it was one of the first churches built by the Christian people of the county. The Dunn, Hufstedler, Campbell, Lemmons, Perrin and other families have long been identified with this church . ...\nother old church of the county is the Baptist church at Sharum. This is an old community of the Black River bottom section of the county and the church has been in existence since before the War Between the States. The Dean, Luttrell, Brooks, Rogers and others, including the Shoffit and Staten families, have long been identified with this church and community. There are other congregations of the Methodist and Christian churches in this section which have been established many years.

[381 GENERAL HISTORY

The history of churches and schools is a part of the story of any community. As stated above, some of the chu!c!J.es are mentioned only in the story of the community. The churches at Maynard and some other places is handled this way. The story of the churches of Pocahontas are like those of other places, more or less lost to the past. It is evident that there were established congregations of at least three or four of the predominating faiths in Pocahontas as early as 1840. There is no record of certain sites or activities until the town ·was around forty years of age. Any person who knows the citizenry of Randolph County from the early days until the present time knows that there was religious activity here as soon as the community took form. Tradition tells us that there was an old log Methodist church near the Dr. Hamil residence before the Civil War. This is probably true, as it is a fact that the old original to,vn (starting with Bettis Bluff) was in that locality. The records show that Walter Lyles sold the Methodist church a site near the present building in 1853. A building is said to have been erected here but later moved across the street south of the present site. Later it was again moved back to the original place. The church at present occupies a nice brick building, built about 1922. The Catholic church in Pocahontas had its origin through the efforts of Father J. P. O'Kean. This mission is said to have been opened by Bishop Edward Fitzgerald in 1868. The present church is located on ground donated by the Bishop. It was built in 1869 by James Hagan. Father O'Kean soon built up a thriving congregation. After he moved to Little Rock in 1871 the church saw a decline until 1880. At this time a large number of Catholic families emigrated from central Europe to Pocahontas and vicinity and this gave the church a strong boost. They have a nice stone building in Pocahontas at this time. Since 1880 the church has also main-

[39] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY tained a school. The local church is known as St. Paul's Catholic Church. A Catholic church ,vas also established at Engleberg, a fe,v miles northeast of Pocahontas, soon after the coming of the families from Germany. It is made up of members of some of the same families as those in the Pocahontas church. It is known as St. John's Catholic Church. Information in regards to the first churches in Pocahontas is limited. The present Missionary Baptist church building was built about 1903. A large part of its membership is made up of the original families represented in the old Shiloh church, which we have already named. After the town began to grow, the close proximity of the Shiloh church· caused n1any to start going to church at Pocahontas which had pre­ viously attended at Shiloh. In fact, we find that I. W. Standi­ ford, who deeded the land for the Shiloh church, was one of the charter members of the Pocahontas church in 1902. The church at present is housed in a medium size brick and wood building, but plans are being made to build a larger building in the near future. The Southern Baptist College, now located in the former community building on the Dalton road, is under the management of the local church. It was opened to the public in 1943. Rev. H. E. \Villiams is president of the college. The Church of Christ _in Pocahontas has been in existence since about 1885. If there was an early building, we have no records of such. Strong congregations of this church have existed near Birdell and at Palestine and Glaze Creek since about 1825, and at other places in the county for shorter lengths of time. The first meetings of the church were held in the courthouse and in an old building which formerly belonged to the Episcopal congregation. The present build­ ing, a nice brick building, was erected in 1913 and 1914. The location at that time was ideal for convenience, but since the city has grown the site is no,v almost "downtown" and

[40] GENERAL HISTORY there is a probability that in the near future a ne"' building ,vill be built farther out, a,vay from the congested district. At present the following Church of Christ ministers. live in Pocahontas: Elders A. B. Shaver and Carroll C. Trent. The Baptist ministers are Rev. H. E. Williams and Rev. Harry Hunt. The Methodist minister is Rev. Hubert Pearce. The Catholic priest who has been with the local church died June 26, 1946, (the ,veek this ,vas written). He was Father Ed,vard J. Yeager. His successor has not been announced. The Pentecostal church has a nice stone building in the northwest part of the city which was built about 1937. Another church of this faith, a small frame building, is located in the southwestern part of the city. The African Methodist church for the colored people has a frame building in the sou th part of town also. They have had a congregation and church building many years. The Baptist church named above in this article is a Mis­ sionary Baptist church. The Freewill Baptists also have a nice sandstone building in the city. It was built about 1939. Eld. G. W. Million, Will S. White and others were sponsors of this church. Eld. Ralph Staten is the present minister, and the church has one of the largest memberships in the city. Randolph County is ,vell supplied ,vith churches. The faiths listed above are the ones at this time which are repre­ sented in the county, in so far as meeting places are con­ cerned. There are some members of certain churches in the county who do not maintain meeting places. Among these are the Presbyterians, Latter Day Saints, Seventh Day Advent­ ists, etc. There is very little antagonism between the different religious bodies in the county. They all get along pretty well. In fact, as time goes on, there is a trend to,vard unity in the basic principles of Christ"s teachings.

[41] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

~ ? . . ·-. _.;. -· ;.;·-·: . .· ..- ~---, . : . . .· ·, ...••• :·· .·. ... _: . ••• ····.• .. . llf

MRS. ELIZA HOGAN'S SCHOOL At the old Masonic Hall in Pocahontas about 1885

SOME OF RANDOLPH COUNTY'S TEACHERS IN .THE 1880's Prof. and Mrs. John Hogan, center front rmo; Kate Hogan, right end, from.

[421 GENERAL ,HJSTORl

EARLY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATORS OF THE COUNTY

Along with the other information connected with the history of the various communities of the county has been mentioned the names of several of the leading eq.ucators of Randolph County. But due to the important part played by these people in the pioneer days, we feel that a -more detailed article should be included concerning those who first dis­ pensed the "three R's" within the present confines of our county. Just who the first teacher was is not definitely known. Caleb Lindsey, who lived in the old Fourche de Thomas com­ mun_ity before 1820, is reputed to have taught the first school in the state, in a cave near the present site of Ravenden Springs. If this story is accepted, this would make him our county's first educator. There was very little educational activity in this section before the Civil War. Scattered communities had a few ,veeks of "subscription" school each year. This school was usually taught by the neighboring preacher. B. J. Wiley, the first clerk of the county and the third county judge, is said to have been a teacher during the early thirties. He visited the established communities and agreed to teach for a price, which was usually paid in products of the farm and furs. Part of the price was the charge made by the family who boarded Mr. Wiley while he was living in the community. This was true of most of the first teachers. Another early teacher was C. C. Elder, who was clerk of the county during the wartime sixties. Rev. Larkin John­ ston was also a teacher during this period. He was the first tax asseswr of the county, serving from 1862 to 1868. There ·were several more teachers in the county by this time and the author regrets that we do not have a more complete list.

[43] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

During the period from the close of the War Between the States and 1880 conditions improved wonderfully in educa­ tion. School districts were being laid out, houses built, and a general desire to have their children secure at least an ele­ mentary education was abroad in the land. Most of the first houses built were to be used both as a school and "meeting house." This kind of building served the communities many years, and even unto this day many of the rural schoolhouses are used in this manner. Usually some "well fixed" man in the community would build a. house and give it to the community. One such building was the old Allen schoolhouse which was built near Supply in Little Black township by Eld. Zera Allen. Desiring that the folks have a place to attend church and a place for the chil­ dren to go to school, Eld. Allen, who was a Church of Christ minister, built this house and then donated it to the old District Number Three. The old Ne~ Hope church and school, located on Mud creek, was another early school and church. The late ·Thomas D. Mock once told the author of teaching here in 1874. The house was an old one at that time. Dr. Byrd built the first schoolhouse at \Vann Springs. C. C. Elder, referred to above, was one of the first teachers here, followed by Mrs. Surridge and others. .A.t this place also taught Prof. and Mrs. Tilford and Prof. and Mrs._ Hogan, possibly the best known teachers which have ever lived in Randolph County. Many citizens, past middle age, owe their education to these two couples who ,vere in their prime from 1880 to around 1906. Eli Abbott, early resident of Maynard, although unedu­ cated himselt saw the need for a school of higher learning. To secure this, he built the school which was known as UAbbott"s Institute.~' For many years it was attended by young folks from a wide radius. Some of the first teachers here are still living.

[441 GENERAL HISTORY

It would be an interesting list indeed if it were possible to produce one which listed all the teachers of the county for the first fifty years of its existence. This is impossible. The meager list named above covers about all the known ones for this period. The period from 1860 until 1910 produced many fine educators for Randolph County. The list is too long to name all, but below we have a partial list of these. If there are those whose names should have been listed are not found herein, we wish to assure the reader that they were not intentionally omitted. Here are the names of about forty of those which ,ve can think of who belong to this list: \V. T. Bispham, Prof. and Mrs. Tilford, Prof. Hogan and Mrs. Hogan, \V. T. Stubble­ field, S. A. Eaton, S. L. Johnston, William Henry .Johnston, C. James Dalton, Ben F. Spikes, L. D. Hurn, Mrs. Surridge, J. L. Williford, W. E. Hibbard, J. T. Lomax, J. H. Skaggs, Martha Redwine Johnston, J. A. Ryburn, Nannie Wisner, C. E. Witt, Lula Witt, Tom W. Campbell, James Campbell, Kate Skinner, Henry Ator, H. M. Bishop, C. D. Bishop, J. Q. Pond, J. S. Anderson, Lucy Hill, Chas. H. Carter, John L. Fry, J. A. Galbraith, Sol M. White, Katie Jones \Vhite, Kate Hogan, James Wheat, Mrs. Lilly Roberts, Anna Jones, and Tell Thompson. This does not take into consideration the long list of later teachers who have spent long years in the job of educat­ ing our boys and girls. In this list we would find the names of Edgar Hulen, Birdie Hulen, John Hogan, Eugene Thompson, R. J. ~f. \\Tyatt, Hutch Phipps, Alma and l\'foina Spikes, Bertha Mock, Rufus A .. Mock, Charles .,A.• Dixon, Jess Red·wine, Zadie L. Smith, Gertie Mock, Ed. Buxton, Mara and Myrtle Stubble­ field, Minerva Simington, Myrt Bennett, Lucy Thomas, Vir­ ginia Henderson, Jeff Lawhon, Lawrence Stubblefield, Rufe Baker, Lindsey Miller, Dora King Spikes, Elva Magruder, ~Iayme Thomas and countless others who have taught in the schools of Randolph County during recent years.

[451 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Uncle Bert Grissom built a schoolhouse for the children in the community of ,vestern Siloam and eastern \Varm Springs township about the close of the Civil \Var. Other old schoolhouses of the period before the Civil \Var and the period just following, before the county was cut up into districts, were at O Id Reyno, one near Yadkin, one just west of Birdell, one on \Vells creek, and one in the vicinity of the Mcllroy crossing on Elevenpoint River. Th~re were others of ,vhich we do not know the location. Of the educators who have lived in Randolph County, one of the best known was Rufus A. l\fock, who was active in the educational field of the county from around 1910 until his death in 1934. For several years he was.a teacher in different schools of the county, but later became the first county school superintendent. It was in this capacity that he did his most valuable service. During this service he advocated consolidation, improve­ ment of school buildings, bus transportation, school fairs, etc. In some of these he ,vas "ahead of the times." He saw farther down the years than many. For this he met opposition and criticism. The system was made a political issue and the schools possibly suffered from the effects for a number of years. Ho,vever, as time passed the things a_dvocated by Rufus ~lock have been adopted and the ,visdom of his ideas has been proven. In justice to Rufus A. l\fock, it must be said that if he ,vere living today he ,vould see most of the changes he advo­ cated in effect, and many who strongly opJX>sed. his recom­ mendations well pleased with the change. There are seventy-one school districts in the county at the present time. The number of pupils of school age in the dis­ tricts run from less than ten to a few over seven hundred in the Pocahontas district. · Educational conditions in the

[46] GENERAL HISTORY county a.re gradually improving. But the good done by the early teacher must not be discounted. They built the founda­ tion upon which we stand today, and did so under a lot more unfavorable conditions than we can realize. All honor to their memory!

RANDOLPH COUNTY'S ONLY GOVERNOR Thomas Stephenson Drew

Thomas Stephenson Drew, the fourth Governor of the state of Arkansas, was a resident of Randolph County. He is the only governor the county has had. He was born near Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee, August 25, 1802. He ·was the son of Newton Drew who came to Tennessee from Southampton County, Virginia, in 1797. Governor Drew first settled in Arkansas in Clark County in 1821. Here he served one term as county clerk, but did not ask for a second term. This was in 1823 to 1825. After leaving the office of clerk of Clark County he embarked upon the business of an itinerant peddler. While doing this he made trips all over Arkansas Territory. While on one of these trips, which he made on horseback, he visited Pocahontas, which was then a small trading post and owned by Ransom Sutherland Bettis. Here he met Bettis' daughter, Cinderella, and they were married. The Bettis family was one of the first families of Randolph County, coming here from North Carolina. After Thomas Drew married Cinderella Bettis her father gave her as her dowry eight hundred acres of land in Chero­ kee Bay. Here he and his bride moved and made their home for several years. He was elected to the office of county judge of Lawrence County, and served from 1832 to 1835, while residing at his plantation home, which was on the site of the present town of Biggers. The county seat of Lawrence County was at Old Jack.son at that time.

[471 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

·, :•,• ~-::.:;+.~: .~: ·).'· .

. '-····-·····.. ·····J...

THOMAS STEPHENSON DREW Fourth gor7ernor of Arlum.Mu. Elected from Randolph County.

The Territorial Legislature of 1835 cut off Randolph County from Lawrence County in October of that year. In I 836 a Constitutional Convention was called to meet in Little Rock, in January, to draw up a state constitution. Thomas S. Dre'\v and Henry Slavens, both of Cherokee Bay in Ran­ dolph County, were chosen as two of the delegates from Lawrence and Randolph counties. Thus Thomas Drew helped write our first state constitution. After this Drew lived the life of a planter on his farm and was not identified ·with public life until 1844 when the state

[481 GENERAL HISTORY

Democratic Convention nominated him for Governor. He was elected by a large majority over the Whig candidate. _He served this term, which ,vas for four years at that time, and did not announce for a second term. Nevertheless, he ,vas elected for a second term without opposition in the state. A few days after the election, on November IO, 1848, Drew surprised his friends and constituents by announcing that he ·would not serve a second term. While still in office, he appeared within the Senate cham­ ber and read a letter announcing that he was resigning the office. The letter, in part, is as follows: "The overwhelming desi_re of friends, who believed they could do much, and no doubt intended to move in the matter, pledged me that every exertion ,vould be made to raise my salary before the second term began, to a point sufficient at least to pay my expenses with my family at the seat of government, which the consti­ tution of the state makes it imperative tbat the Executive shall reside. The failure to do this, or any attempt by those ,vho had previously manifested so much interest in regard to this subject, placed me at once where I found that the time had elapsed in which it was possible to effect anything of the kind for my relief, under the prohibitions of the Constitu­ tion. The ceremonies of the inauguration were but just over ·when the determination was taken to resign, which I now do so, from the office of Governor of the State of Arkansas." So thus, only a few days over a month of his second term gone, Thomas Drew quit the office of Governor of Arkansas because the salary at that time ,vas insufficient to "at least pay the expenses of the family" of the Chief Executive of the state. Richard C. Byrd became acting Governor. Being governor was not all the noteworthy things which Thomas S. Drew did during his lifetime. Besides being also county clerk of Clark County, county judge of Lawrence County and a member of the 1836 constitutional convention,

[49] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY he also has the distinction of being one of the founders of the city of Pocahontas. He and his father-in-law, Bettis, o,vned the land where the town is now located. As is recorded in another chapter of this book, Drew donated several parcels of land to the town. He also appeared in court at the 1837 term and acknowledged the execution of a bond to the county treasurer in the amount of $3,000.00, which was a donation

Monument at grm;e of Gm:ernor Drew in Masonic Cemetery in Pocalumta. toward the building of a courthouse for Randolph County, "provided the building was located in Pocahontas~" Bettis did likeivise in the amount··of one thousand dollars. March

{50] GENERAL HISTORY

17, 1841, Drew recorded in the deed record of ·Randolph County his "Drew's Addition" to the town of Pocahontas. Just when the Dre,v fam~ly left the. plantation home in Cherokee Bay is not kno,vn. It is supposed that they moved away when he was elected Governor. It appears that during the years that he was in Little Rock that he suffered severe financial losses. The records show that Drew and his wife "deeded" considerable real estate and several slaves to his mother-in-law, Mary Bettis, on June 1, 1850, "For money bor­ rowed April 1, 1846, in the amount of $4,100.00." Mrs. Bettis lived in Desha County, Arkansas, at that time. Ransom S. Bettis died about 1841 or early 1842. Drew was appointed as.his administrator April 13, 1842. Mrs. Drew's mother died at Lake Providence, Louisiana, June 23, 1852. Mrs. Drew inherited considerable property from her mother at that time. But it seems that the family had become so deeply in debt that they never recovered from the effects. On October 23, 1849, a large assembly of men froin many states of the Union met at Memphis for the first meeting of the proposed Memphis Railroad. This was a proposed rail­ road from San Diego, California, on the Pacific coast to end at Memphis. Thomas S. Drew was the representative from Arkansas, being one of the vice-presidents elected at the convention. Others from .A.rkansas ,vere in attendance. April 7, 1853, Thomas S. Dre,v was appointed by the President of the United States to the office of superi...~tendent of Indian affairs for the Southern Division, with an office at Van Buren. He was not an applicant for the place. No record can be found where he ever took over the office. It is doubt­ ful that he did, since the local records show various activities of his in Randolph County all along during this period. In the election of 1858, Drew was a candidate for Con­ gress from the Second Congr~ional District on the Inde-

[511 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY pendent ticket. Albert Rust ,vas the Democratic candidate. Rust won the election by a large majority. Just why Drew ran as an Independent is not known. It is possible that he had lost his popularity and failed to be chosen as the regular democratic candidate and ran as an Independent, hoping to gain his former support. One noteworthy act of Governor Drew while in that office was his proclamation which set aside Thursday, December 9, I 84 7, as a day of Thanksgiving. This was the first Thanks­ giving ever observed in Arkansas. Although the day had been observed in New England for many years, it had not been generally observed in the South prior to this time. After I 858 Drew seems to have ceased to take a very active part in public affairs. His name is mentioned locally during this period, mostly by deed records, where he and his wife disposed of some of their holdings. · He was employed in the general store of Green R. Jones in Pocahontas as bookkeeper at a salary of $200 per month in 1866. Soon after this he resigned and opened an office as attorney. He is said to have had a very good legal mind. A portion of this salary as ~kkeeper was credited to Dre-\\1 's account at the Jones store. He seems to have been badly in debt at this time. When William H. Jarrett came to Poca­ hontas from Columbia in 1866, he also got a job in Jones' store. After Drew resigned, Jones and Drew made an agree­ ment that Jarrett was to board with the Drew family for a price of twenty-five dollars per month, this amount to be taken off Jarrett's salary and applied on Drew's account at the store. Jarrett remained with the family four years. Thomas S. Drew and Cinderella Bettis Drew had five children living at that time. Their.names were Joe, James and Ransom, boys, and Emma and Sadie, the girls. The girls both married Federal officers, although the family was sym­ pathetic toward the cause of the Confederacy. Evidently this did not meet the approval of the neighbors who ,vere bitter

[52] GENERAL HISTORY toward the North. A letter written at the time of the mar­ riage of Emma to the northern army officer from some. young lady residing in Pocahontas to a friend elsewhere stated: "You asked about Emma Drelv's marriage to the Yankee; ,vell, that is about all you could expect of her.," was the belittling reply. We understand that this letter is in the pos­ session of Mrs. H. M. Jaco,vay of Little Rock at this time. Both the Drew girls ,vere musicians. Nothing is kno,vn of the Dre,v family after 1870. Some writers have stated that they moved to Texas "soon after the close of the war." This is incorrect, as shown above. It is likely that they did remove to that state about 1871 or 1872. Thomas Drew died there at Lipan, Hood County, Texas, in 1879. Here his remains lay in an unmarked grave until 1923, when a number of interested Randolph County citizens asked W. A. Jackson, who was state senator from this district at that time, to ask the Legislature to appropriate one thou­ sand dollars to be used to move the remains of Governor Drew from Texas for re-interment in the Masonic cemetery in Pocahontas. This was done and a committee composed of Senator Jackson, R. N. Hamil and Judge J. W. Meeks was appointed to go to Texas for this purpose. The ashes of Arkansas' third governor ,vas deposited with fitting ceremonies in the ceme­ tery named above on Decoration day, May 30, 1923. One of the largest crowds ever assembled in Pocahontas up to that time attended the ceremony. Thus comes to a close the story of Randolph County's only citizen who up to the present has occupied the office of Governor of Arkansas. An appropriate marble shaft stands on the spot of the last resting place of this noted man, who was not only a governor of a great state, but one of the first citizens of Cherokee Bay, one of the first county officials of Lawrence

[53] HISTORY. OF RANDOLPH COUNTY and Ciark counties, one of the founders of the city of Poca­ hontas, and the only man who ever resigned as governor of the state because the salary was too low to support his family.

Quoting the words of the late William Jarrett who, as stated above, lived in the Drew home four years, "Thomas Drew was small in stature, had a kindly, friendly smile, and ,vas one of the gentlest, most patient men you ever saw."

POCAHONTAS' THREE COURTHOUSES

The first courthouse which was built in what is now Ran­ dolph County was, as is well known, at Davidsonville. Here the seat of justice remained until 1829, when it was moved to Jackson. At Jackson was the site of the second courthouse in Ran­ dolph County. Both these were courthouses to serve old Lawrence County, of which Randolph was a part. In 1835, ,vhen Randolph County ,vas cut off from La-,vrence, the county seat of Lawrence County was moved to Smithville. This left Randolph without a county seat. Just why Jackson ,vas not considered as the county seat of the new county is not kno,vn. It can be said of the pioneer who chose the sites for the early towns that his judgment was usually good when it came to picking out places for the county seat. While Lawrence County was not so fortunate, Randolph has the distinction of ·having had only one county seat, although it possesses the site of three.

As is kno,m, the site of Pocahontas ,vas kno,m as Bettis Bluff at the time Randolph County ,vas formed. Ransom S. Bettis, the father-in-law of Thomas S. Drew, lived on the site and there ,vas a small trading center here.

[541 GENERAL HISTORY

As is reiated in the Fourche de Thomas article, the deci­ sion as to what place would be the county seat was left. to a vote of the people. Old Columbia, or Fourche de Thomas, was a strong con­ tender for the place, and some say that if it had not been for the fact that Pocahontas was located on a navigable stream, which was a very important advantage at that time,. Columbia ,vould have won . . ~ ~ . But the fact is, the chief reason Pocahontas won in the election was due to the fact that Bettis and Drew owned the site of the town of Pocahontas and when the election was advertised they also advertised a big free barbecue and picnic to be held at Pocahontas on that date, and a majority of the voters of the county attended. Eats were plentiful and liquor flowed freely. After partaking of the eats and drinking the free liquor of the sponsors, the crowd, so ,ve are told, felt much invigorated and also kindly toward Dre,v and Bettis and were easily persuaded to vote for Pocahontas. Anyway, Pocahontas won, and the county seat has remained here ever since. The first major job for the new county and town was the building of a counhouse, the story of which follows. In fact the following account gives you the story of the building of the three courthouses which the county has had since the county was formed in 1835.

The first courthouse was built between 1837 and 1839. It was a two-story building forty feet square. Thomas 0. Marr was the contractor and he received twenty-four hundred dollars for the job. Daniel Lieb, Thomas Holderby, John R. Vance, James Rowland and Ransom Bettis were securities to the contract which Marr gave to the building committee ,vhich ,vas appointed to supervise the building. This contract ,vas signed April 21, 1838. A. W. ~{cKinney and E. D .. Pit­ man ,vere ,vitnesses to the deal. Marr was. to be paid eight hundred dollars ·within six months, "or sooner if collected,"

[551 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

RANDOLPH COUNTY'S SECOND COURTHOUSE Noa, called the "Old Courthou,e"'

"'

RANDOLPH COUNTY'S PRESENT COURTHOUSE A modern fireproof buiLfinc, erected in 1940

[56] GENERAL HISTORY and sixteen hundred dollars within twelve months, "or sooner if collected."

Daniel Lieb, Joseph Spikes, Fielding Stubblefield and John R. Vance were appointed as commissioners "to super­ intend buildings, receive donations, etc."

July 27, 1837, Thomas S. Dre,v donated to ·the commis­ sioners the following lands in the town of Pocahontas, to be used by said commissioners for the purpose of building a courthouse and other public buildings: "All of blocks 18, 19, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 42, 43, and the east part of lot one in blocks 44, and 45, lot 6 in block 45. Lots 35 and 36 in block 34, and part of lots 3 and 4 in block 17. North part of lot 4 in block 15, and all of block 20 and lot I in block 21 and lot l in block 22. Lot no. 4 in block 34. Lot 2 in block 43, together with the triangular fractions in the northwest and northeast comers of the west half of the southwest quarter of the northwest quarter of section 27, township 19, north range, one east, and the north fractional part of the public square which is marked block. number 32. Also lot no. 32 in block 44, all lying east of Broadway street in the town of Pocahontas:·

The deed to the commissioners was signed by Thomas S.. Drew and his wife, Cinderella Drew, and ·witnessed by Casper Schmick, who was a justice of the peace, and Ransom S. Bettis, Drew's father-in-law.

11tis property was transferred to James S. Conway, who ,vas Governor of Arkansas at that time, by the commissioners. to become public owned property. The courthouse built on this land stood until about 1870, when it collapsed due to structural ,veakness. It had become unsafe for occupancy, and as early as 1868 a new courthouse had been talked about.

[571 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

THE SECOND COURTHOUSE

The second courthouse in Pocahontas is the building in the public square and which is now known as the "old court­ house.'' It 1;,vas used during the recent ·war as an entertain­ ment center for the boys in service located at the local air­ base. It no,v houses the county library, the city officials' office and the upstairs is still used for entertainment purposes. This building was completed early in 1875. After the first old courthouse lvas declared unsafe for occupancy, quarters were rented for use as a courthouse. On April 15, 1872, the court ordered the clerk's office to be moved to the lower floor of the county jail. Also, the lower part of· the jail was to be used as a place to hold county and probate court "until further notice." June 8, 1874, M. D. Baber, as commissioner of public buildings, rented the store building of]. P. Black & Co. for use as a courthouse. The building is described as "containing five rooms, a shed and cistern attached, also containing a stove and pipe." The rent was fifty dollars per month, to be paid in county warrants, or "if paid in green back, fifty cents on the dollar ,vould be accepted as full payment." This contract ,vas to run until April, 1875. Just ,vhen the old house ,vas abandoned as a courthouse is not kno,vn. but on October 18, 1865, the St. Charles Hotel ,vas rented as a courthouse. From this it appears that the offices ,vere 1noved around considerable benveen the time the old house ,vas condemned and the ne,v one ,vas built. The Black store is supposed to have been located about ,vhere the pres- ent Pocahontas postoffice building stands. The first steps taken to,vard building the second court­ house appears to have been on May 19, 1869, ,vhen Thomas L. Marfin, ,vho was then commissioner of public buildings, ,vas ordered by the court to advertise for bids for the con­ struction of the ?uilding. For some reason, no contract was a,varded to anyone until April I 5, I 872, ,vhen the commis­ sioner at that time, one Josiah Fisher, a,varded the contract

[58] GENERAL HISTORY for the construction of a courthouse to John A. McKay of Helena. The contract price was $39,865.00, to be p~d. in payments as the construction progressed, the work to be com­ pleted by April l, I 873. McKay was to accept the old build­ ing as a $1,000 payment. The contractor was unsatisfactory. A lot of delay and disagi-eements came about. The commissioner paid McKay more money than he was supposed to have done and yet the building was far from being finished when the expiration date came, April 1, 1873. Three men were appointed as building supervisors, and they in turn appointed a new com­ missioner in the place of Josiah Fisher. The supervisors were John P. Black, Green R. Jones and Jacob Hufstedler. They appointed Thomas Simington as commissioner and ordered him to advertise in the Randolph Republican newspaper for somebody to take the job of finishing the job which McKay had fallen down on. There seems to have been a compromise effected between the commissioners and McKay wherein he did go ahead and finish the building, although under an amended con tract. This did not work out very satisfactory, either, and after several disputes with McKay over the matter of settlement, in January, 1875, court proceedings were started to take the newly constructed building out of the hands of McKay, who had forbid the county to take possession until his claims had been paid in full. Evidently the county won out in the suit, as we find that on April 7, 1875, the county and circuit clerk (There was only one clerk's office at that time) had been ordered by the county judge to oversee the moving of all offices into the new building. On April the nineteenth of the same year County Judge Isham Russell and the various justices of the peace of the county met and appropriated funds to be used in purchasing furniture and fixtures for the ne,v courthouse.

[59] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

In June after this the Ia,v firm of Baber and Henderson was employed by the county to go to Helena and represent the county in a suit in court in which McKay was still attempting to collect on his claims. The matter was settled by a compromise, but it appears that neither the county nor the contractor was satisfied with the deal. Such is the story of the building of the second courthouse of Ranq.olph County, which stands today in the center of the '"square," just north of the present courthouse.

THE THIRD COURTHOUSE

After sixty years of service to the county the building described above was thought by many to be out of date and no longer satisfactory as a courthouse. Those favoring the erection of a new building arranged for an election to be held in the county to determine whether the majority of taxpayers ,vanted a new building. The election was held and a majority was in favor of the move. Joe S. Decker, the county judge at that time-1940-appointed a group of men to make up an advisory board, which would assist him in the preliminaries of getting the project under way. The board ,vas made up of the following: J. B. Weaver, Oscar Prince, Lantie l\fartin, A. J. Cooper, R. E. Sallee, George Prom­ berger, Sr., F. W. Cox and Harry Hite. The contract for the construction of the new building was awarded to E. V. Bird Construction Co. Judge Decker apJX>inted five former county judges as building commissioners. They were Ben A. Brown, G. W. ~fillion, Joe Snodgra~, Dee Mock and C. H .. Brooks. Eugene John Stem was the architect. The contract price for the erection of the courthouse was $68,763.50. The contract price for the erection of the cobble­ stone jail ,vas awarded to Henry Dust, of Pocahontas, for the sum of $2,547.00.

[60] GENERAL HISTORY

Ninety-two thousand doHars ,vorth of bonds ,vere sold to finance the whole project. A three-story fireproof building was erected which is a credit to the county. This building is one of the finest and most substantial county courthouses in the state. Such is the condensed history of the building of Randolph County's three courthouses. In the one hundred and a few years of this county's exist­ ence, since the first settler came, court has been held at five different places in the county.

LIFE IN RANDOLPH COUNTY PRIOR TO THE CIVIL WAR

Living conditions and customs among the people who first came here and those who lived here during the first three quarters of a century remained about the same. Modern conveniences and the mode of living was about the same for the family who saw the clouds of the War of Secession gather and the family which first stopped besides the old Southwest Trail. Up until this time no railroad had reached our sec­ tion. No telephone or telegraph line has come to us, in fact the telephone was as yet unknown. Our only connection with the outside world was by contact with the small stream of immigrants who came trickling into our county from the east and by the few steamboats which braved the snags and sandbars of our uncharted rivers. As we know, the first mail came overland by horseback rider from St. Louis. The first mail route ran the old Military road from St. Louis via. SL Genevieve, Pitman, Davidsonville and Arkansas Post to Mon­ roe, Louisiana, once a month. High water, bad roads, bad weather, etc., made the trips bar.ardous and uncertain. We of today who become impatient if the mail happens to be thirty minutes late cannot grasp the contrasts along this line of one hundred years ago.

[61] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Life in the home was a very simple procedure, yet carried with it long hours of arduous toil and handicaps. The first homes were usually one-room log cabins; sometimes a "lean­ to" side room made of clapboards, provided an extra room used as a kitchen. A huge stone or "stick and dirt" chimney furnished the heat for both the comfort of the family and for cooking. Many of the first log homes were eighteen to twenty feet square and contained everything the family owned in the way of household furnishings. Usually· the back of the room was occupied by two or three bedsteads, generally home-made. In the middle of the room or near the one window was the "stand-table" on which was found the lamp of whatever method of lighting that was used­ grease lamp, candles, or in later years the first kerosene burners. High upon the back or side wall were usually found huge "enlarged" pictures of grandfather, grandmother or some other older member of the family, in the years after the coming of the first photographs. Above the fireplace was the "mantleboard, upon which was located the clock and other necessary articles that lasted best out of the reach of the smaller children. Above this, or over the door, were placed two forks, whittled from a small tree, upon which was placed the trusty family rifle. On one side of the fireplace usually hung the "shot pouch and powder horn." On the other side father or grandfather usually had hung a few "hands'' of choice large leaves of tobacco to "cure" for immediate use. Back under the bed or in a remote comer was found the family trunk, which held as its precious contents the entire family wardrobe, plus a few heirlooms, odd keepsakes, etc. In one comer, or sometimes along one wall as a permanent shelf, stood the dining table, upon which rested -all the family's chinaware, silverware and cooking utensils that could not be hung upon pegs along the wall. At mealtime a tem­ porary removal was effected, the table cleared and the meal was spread. The family sat around the table, usually upon a long bench. In front of the fireplace was a wide hearth ma~e of a flat rock. "Live" coals of fire were drawn -out- on this

[62] GENERAL HISTORY and the food that lvas fried ,vas placed in a "spider" or frying pan and cooked upon this fire. Boiled food was placed in a huge black iron kettle and hung on a "crane" ,vhich s,vting out above the fire, which ,vas made of large sticks of ,vood ,vith a huge backlog behind it. Bread was baked by placing it in a large cast iron skillet which had a protruding iron lid. A bed of coals was drawn out upon the hearth and the skillet placed on them and a big shovelful of them heaped upon the lid. Here, between these nvo pieces of ancient cast-iron, was cooked some of the sweetest "staff of life" that was ever eaten by man! Back in that dim and distant day the problem of court­ ship ,vas a lot more complicated than it is in the present day of parlor, sport coupe and roadhouses. The bashful boy of that day had to face the whole family a greater part of the time he spent with his girl friend. They usually sat on the trunk or back on the side of the bed and "whispered sweet nothings" into each other's ears while the rest of the family sat in a circle around the open fireplace, if the occasion was during the winter. The list of foods ,vhich provided sustenance for the pio­ neer and his family was small. All of it ,vas grown on the farm upon which he resided except the wild game, etc., which came from the nearby forest. Bread was principally made of com meal before the days of the roller mill which brought into popular use_ the bread made of ,vheat and some other small grains. The com meal ,vas "grated"' during the early autumn before it became too hard. After this it was pounded into meal ,vith a mortar and pestle-Indian style. Lots of fruit and vegetables ,vere "dried" during the late summer, before the use of jars came into common use. Some vegetables and potatoes were stored in the cellar or "holed up." Much com was utilized for food by being made into ~'lye hominy." The old saying of "living on hog and hominy"' had its origin from the fact that it was often the case, especially during a hard ,vinter, that the early settler's family did live on _the

[631 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY generally plentiful supply of pork and com from his crib as their main source of food. We hear a lot during depression years of the family "live at home" program. The pioneer practiced this to the fullest extent. Today we go to the local store for all such things as soap, sugar, pepper, spices, etc. One hundred years and less ago folks couldn't do this. They had to "manage for them," or do without. It is true that they often did the latter; but their ability to find the things needed would be a task that we of the present day would probably fail in. Wild honey furnished our first families their first and chief source of sweetening. Soap ,vas made by the ash-hopper method of distilling lye from wood ashes and combining this with meat scraps to produce the semi-liquid brown soap which elderly people (and a few of the present time) can remember as being the contents of a large unsightly barrel in the woodshed or·smoke­ house. The field of spices and pepper was obtained mostly by growing red pepper and onions in the garden. Horse­ radish, garlic and other like plants were sometimes included. The clothing of the pioneer was home-made. Home-made "jeans," which was woven on the huge loom, was the prin­ cipal source of men's clothing and a part of the women's. Lucky indeed was the lady who owned a "store-bought dress" from the East. Shoes were made at home and some local man was a hatter. Hose for both men and women were knitted by the womenfolk of the family from wool sheared from the sheep and spun into yam on the old spinning wheel. The above description of pioneer living depicts the first methods. With the coming of better means of communi­ cation and transportation conditions gradually changed. Pio­ neer living is a far cry from our modem ways, but the rugged old backswoodsmao, possibly through necessity, proved his skill at meeting and solving many problems that we, his grandsons, would most likely fail to accomplish. Pioneer life moved steadily along, and when an emergency or tough times came along they rolled up their sleeves and tackled the job

[641 GENERAL HISTORY and did not wait for a.t"l edict from \Vashington as we do today. Social life on the frontier was limited, yet colorful. The house-raisings, play parties, old-time square dances~ husking and spinning bees, candy-breakings and box suppers were the chief sources of diversification and entertainment for both young and old. Horse races, picnics and barbecues; not to mention fish fries, charivatjs, etc., were· also a part of the social activities, especially during the summer months. All this flourished until the tum of the present century and is not entirely extinct even today in the rural sections. Business and finance was carried on in a limited way. The medium of exchange was principally by barter and trade. Very little actual cash found its way into the pock~ts of Randolph countians during the first years of its·existence. On the old records of the county can often be found record­ ings of trades wherein one man bought livestock, slaves or household goods, paying for same with a certain number of coonskins, oxen, a negro boy or so many bushels of com. Occasionally a father would hire his son out to a neighbor "to ,vork all dry days from April I to July 4" for "seventy­ five bushels of corn, in addition to his board, work clothing and washing." The early school teachers and preachers were paid in "pork, feathers and homespun cloth."

(65) HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

TH"J;"... .L ./1..J ...... ,r'TlTTT .& y .&. A-J '\"TARy

As is true of the entire nation, especially the Southland, Randolph County played her part in the regrettable War Between the States. We ,vho Ii ve at this time, when we look hack through almost a century of time, are prone to think of this war inside our own nation, between our own folks, as a very unnecessary occurrence. In fact the same could be said of all wars. Yet there was a very pistinct issue at stake. Time has mellowed the scene. 0 Id hatreds and sectional differences have subsided to the stage where we, of the second and third generation, can never feel the sting ,vhich our grandfathers felt when the "Yankees" told them what they "must" do. Of course, as is generally known, the slavery question was the root of all the trouble. The North wanted to free the slaves; the South wanted to keep them. The South sought to pull away from the North, and by so doing "could handle their own affairs without Northern interference." The North, in order to preserve the union of states, would not agree to this. So here was the direct and immediate cause which started actual conflict. When the North told the-·South that "you cannot secede" the pride and independence which burned deep in the rugged old southerners blood just "couldn't take if'-to use present-day slang in stating this. While no doubt at this time it would be hard to find a person, even in the "deep South," that is not glad that the North won, yet ,ve of the South are proud of the independent spirit and pride ,vhich our people displayed during this dark period of our nation's history. It cannot be denied that both sides had a selfish motive in their stand on the slavery question. The southern slave­ owners needed the negroes to help them in much the same manner that we need teams, tractors, etc., at this time to assist us. It was grave financial and economic loss to the South to part with this practice. On the other hand, the North did not need slave labor, since it had no plantations. and the negro at that time did not make a satisfactory indus-

[66] GENERAL HISTORY trial worker. In order to sway public sentiment, the North made a moral issue of slavery. \Vhile ,ve do know that slavery is morally ,vrong, as a Southerner, ,ve do not believe we are prejudiced when we say that we do not believe this would have been considered any more in the North than in the South if the slave had been of equal advantage in that section. It is not the desire of the author at this time to bring forth a discussion of the moral and economic reasons behind the Civil War, but only to briefly explain the setting of the stage which produced the tragic drama of civil strife which resulted in the greatest blight which has ever spread over our fair land. After the break had spread beyond repair and the states of the South had begun to withdra,v from the Union, Arkan­ sas followed suit. The Secession Convention, which resulted in Arkansas joining the Confederacy, met in Little Rock, March 4, 1861. James \V. Crenshaw was the delegate from Randolph County. The state actually withdre,v from the Union May 6, 1861. On May 13 a l\1ilitary Board was appointed at Little Rock for the purpose of organizing the state for actual combat service. The first action ,vas to organ­ ize five regiments of men. This was quickly done. Ten thou­ sand men were assembled and, according to the records, "they rendezvoused at Pocahontas as soon as they were ready to march." This step ,vas taken as a safeguard from invasion from the north. Missouri as yet was undecided as to ,vhat stand she ,vas to take and there ,vere northern sympathizers within "three days" marching time of the northern borders of Arkansas, of sufficient strength to threaten the safety of this section, should they decide to make a bold strike, which they never did. On August 29, 1861, General William J. Hardee landed at Pocahontas to take charge of the troops assembled here. 1Jie troops were stationed clµefly t~ the souµi and west of

[67] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY town. Excavations along the south banks of ~fill creek in the vicinity of "Cypress Springs," just outside of the south­ western comer of the present city limits, can still be seen. Many men died while encamped here and are buried in the woods in that vicinity and in the old burying ground north of town. The camp is known in some of the military records as "Camp Shaver," presumably named for Col. Robert G. Shaver who was stationed here for some time. On October 7 Gen. Hardee was promoted to the rank of major general, by which time he had about completed the work of transferring the Arkansas troops and organizing an army, which was composed of the following regiments: Sec­ ond Arkansas Confederate, under Col. Thomas C. Hindman. The first Arkansas Confederate regiment of infantry, under Col. James F. Fagan, had already departed for Virginia. The Third under Col. Albert Rust, the F

[681 GENERAL HISTORY dolph County men. ~fhey ,vere under the command of the following men: Joseph Martin, Eli Hufstedler, l\fahlon McNabb, T. J. Mellon, Albert Kelsey, \Villiam A .. Black, Isaac Schmick and John Mitchell. There ,vas also a camp of soldiers at Pitman Ferry for several months. General Hardee was there awhile after mov­ ing from Pocahontas. His camp ,vas aero~ the river from Pitman, just south of old "Buckskull," on the bank of Cur­ rent River. Gen. Jeff Thompson and his men were in camp exactly on the line between what is now Clay and Randolph County, just south of the old Pitman ferry. On July 20, 1862, a real battle was fought here between the soldiers who had been ordered to move from Pocahontas to Greenville, Mis­ souri, up the old Military road by way of Pitman. After this battle they are reputed to have drove the Federals away and went on to Greenville, where they were ordered back on account of a threat of invading forces of Federals from the northwest. Here they again met in an engagement, Novem­ ber 25, 1863. A large portion of the troops which spent some time at Pitman and at Pocahontas finally were ordered to Bowling Green, Kentucky, going up by way of Bird's Point on the Mississippi, just south of Cairo, Illinois. They finally reached Bo,vling Green after a small battle at Bird's Point. A number of families in the county today have relatives lvho fell in the major battle at Bowling Green. August 22, 1863, a band of Federals attacked the forces at Pocahontas, and in September, 1863, a band of men under Col. Reeves attacked a group of Federals under Col. Leeper, and several men were killed in the engagement in Cherokee Bay, on the old Herron farm. General Steel of the northern army occupied Pocahontas several months in 1862, after the recruiting camp here was abandoned. This was all the activ­ ity in the county except by "bushwhackers" or roving bands who sought to ,vaylay the opposition and attack them by surprise. A band of this kind from each side met at the .. Tom Pulliam Springu sometime in 1862 and a skirmish

[69] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY ensued. This was about five miles northeast of Warm Springs, just over the line in Missouri. A lot of damage was done by roving bands of bush­ whackers who killed and stole in many sections of the coun­ try. Such a band of Federals killed Henry Wythe, the blind brother of Judge James Martin's ,vife, at their home at what is now kno,vn as Martin Springs, in Columbia township. Sometime during the ,var a band of Federals surprised the congregation at Siloam church and captured a number of men during church. Rev. Larkin F. Johnston was preach­ ing. William Swindle was wounded in the attack. The Seventh Infantry, mentioned above, moved east of the Mississippi and participated in the bloody battle of Shi­ loh, one of the major battles of the entire war. It was after­ ,vards known as the "Bloody Seventh." Henry M. Stanley, noted African explorer, joined this regiment at Pocahontas. The fifteenth Arkansas regiment, which was in the engagements at Pitman, Greenville and Bird's Point, was finally placed under Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston at Bowling Green, Kentucky. There are many stories of other encounters ,vith the "Yan­ kees,,, as the natives called the northern soldiers in derision. The ,var years and the years immediately follo,ving the close w·ere hard~ bitter years for the people of the South. \Vhile· there w·as quite a bit of activity in Randolph County during the ,var, ,ve escaped the destruction of property which fell the lot of many places in the Southern States. Many of the fine young men of the county lost their lives in combat and sev­ eral came home to live the balance of their lives as cripples, but, generally, the close of hostilities found our section ready to take up the duties of providing for their families at the same place and in the same ,vay as before the ,var, except for the "hard times" which l\Tas upon them.

[70] GENERAL HISTORY

The writer remembers hearing our grandfather make the remark many times that he made a crop the first year after the close of the war "on grass and buttermilk." The inen who came home from battle faced a hard immediate future. Their livestock had been killed or stolen. Their buildings and fences in sad state of repair. No money. No credit in the country. Nowhere to go for help. It ,vas really a time for application of the old adage to "root hog or die." When we see the thousands of today who look to Washington, D. C., for help every time they hit a little tough spot we often think about how our grandfathers and grandmothers handled a like problem. Grandmother once told us that the year the war closed her mother, who was a widow, had nothing in the way of food left when spring came except "a few bushels of bread corn" which she had kept hidden all winter from the marauding bands of soldiers, straggling groups from both sides. She relates that often their evening meal consisted of a piece of "plain" cornbread and "what wild onions we could find growing along the spring branch." But with all this, the southern people handed down to us a great lesson in industry, tltrift and hope in the way they met and solved the hardships of that distant dark period of time just follow­ ing the close of the Civii War.

[71] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

STREAMS OF R.Ai~DOLPH COUNTY

The rivers and creeks of a country have a great influence upon the early settlement. The streams which are large enough for boats to navigate are actually the first "roads" travelled in the settlement of a frontier country. Also the fertile lands along such streams afford much farming lands; but in this respect the smaller streams' bottomland is usually cleared first on account of the ease in getting it ready for cultivation. Another feature along this line are ~he springs along the creeks. The first settlers' source of drinking water came largely from springs which were located along the hill­ sides of the valleys. The largest stream in Randolph County is Black River -named this because the first settlers found the water dark and sluggish. Black River flows down out of the hills of upper southeast Missouri, through Clay County, Arkansas, into this county. Among the towns along Black River Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Corning and Pocahontas in Arkansas are the most important. Lead miners under the leadership of the Frenchman Renault and others settled on upper Black River, some as early as 1725. Other early families, mostly French, who, not liking the s,vampy lands around N e,v Mad­ rid, moved west to the hills which ,vere the headwater source of Black River. The French also made a settlement at ,vhat is now known as Peach Orchard in Clay County, on Black River. Pierre LeMieux called the place "Petit Baril," which is supposed to be Peach Orchard in French. Pocahontas is known to have been a French trading post in 1790, and some writers place the date back as far as 1760. Then comes the old towns on Black River of Davidsonville and Po,vhatan. From here the river flows south to unite with \Vhite River at Newport. Old Jacksonport was another old river to\vn ,v-hich died ,vhen Newport ,vas born. Next river in importance in Randolph County is Current River, named so by the first hunters because of the swiftn~

[72] GENERAL HISTORY of its water. Current River finds its source high in the hills of central southern Missouri. Dent County, Missouri, divides its rainfall bet,veen Black, Current and Merrimac rivers. Black and Current carrv their ,vater far south,vard to \Vhite . J . - River, which finally empties into the Mississippi only about sixty miles north of the Louisiana state line. The Merrimac carries its liquid load north to empty into the Father of Waters just south of the city limits of St. Louis. Current River is noted far and ,vide for its fishing, especially the upper portion. Eminence, Van Buren, and Doniphan in Missouri, are the leading towns on this river. In Randolph County, on Current River, is located the ancient river crossing at Pitman, first kno,\·n as Hix's Ferry, ·which was opened soon after 1803 and later as Pitman's Ferry. The early Gaines, Perkins, Duckworth and other ferries were on Current River, as were Shoemaker, Sims and Johnston­ town steamboat "landings." Current River empties into Black near Skaggs' old ferry, about six miles above Poca­ hontas. Another river of the county is Elevenpoint, so nam_ed because its source is made up of "eleven different creeks." It runs down out of Oregon County, Missouri. Along the banks of Elevenpoint River settled some of the first settlers in northeast Arkansas. The Stubblefields, l\fcllroys, Looneys, \Vells, \Vhites, Bakers and others ·were here soon after the Louisiana Purchase. Elm Store, Dalton and Birdell are early to,vns along this stream. The old Carter l\lill (now known as the Hufstedler l\fill) was one of the first ,vater mills in this section of the state. \Vhile the bottom along Elevenpoint is not ·wide, it is very fertile. Some of the best farm land in Arkansas is on this river. Elevenpoint River empties into Spring River only a short distance above the mouth of Spring River itself. Right here could almost be called the "Garden of Eden° of Lawrence and Randolph counties. Here in this immediate vicinity ·was located the "House of Solomon He1Nitt," and a short distance a,\l"ay "the new· house of Rich.-

[73] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY ard Murphy,'' where the two first terms of court were held for old Lawrence County in 1815. Spring River flows along the western boundary of Ran­ dolph County. While it really is not in the county, the east side of its valley is. Originating from Mammoth Spring, the largest fresh water spring in the nation, this stream is one of the most beautiful mountain rivers in the state. Along this stream settled many of the first settlers in this section. Mammoth Spring, Hardy, Williford, Ravenden and Imboden are the chief towns along this stream. The Wells, Sloan, Wyatt, Fortenberry, Taylor, Wayland and other early families first stopped in this valley. Other smaller streams of the county are Janes Creek, Fourche du Mas and several other "creeks," such as Glaze Creek, Dry Creek (two of them), Camp, Tennessee, Mud, lVells and several others of lesser importance. Janes Creek has as its source a number of small creeks which come into Arkansas southwest of Myrtle, Missouri, and flows south by way of Ravenden Springs to empty into Spring River. The "dream town,, of Ravenden Springs, noted as a local health resort, is located near this creek. It was on this creek that John Janes settled in 1809. It was also on this creek that Caleb Lindsey is supposed to have taught the first school in the state, in a cave. (Author's note: The name Fourche du l\,fas is the way it appears on the early maps of this section.) Fourche du Mas flows down out of Ripley County, Mis­ souri, into Randolph County a short distance north of Mid­ dlebrook. From here it runs in a southeasterly direction ~y way of the old "Fourche de Thomas" or Columbia settlement where the Military road crosses, on down by Brockett, which in early days was known as Bollinger's Mill, to empty into Black River a short distance above Pocahontas. This stream is supposed to have been first visited by Frenchmen who gave

(741 GENERAL HISTORY it the name of Fourche de Maux, or de Mas. Later it was called Fourche de Thomas, or Thomas fork.. It is so listed on the early maps, and the community around the Military cro$ing, which is now known as Jarrett, was first called Fourche de Thomas, and at one time had a postoffice by that name. For some reason the name reverted back to the French, and it has long been known as Fourche du Mas. Some of the first settlers of north Arkansas settled along this stream. - Dry Creek which flows into Elevenpoint below Oconee and Dry Creek which flows into Fourche du Mas near the ancient Eldridge ford in Siloam township are the two smaller streams of the same name in the county. Mud Creek, which flows down by the village of Warm Springs, is another noted creek. On this creek settled the Shavers, Mocks, Morris, Fletcher, Holt and other early families. On the old home­ stead of the late Thomas D. Mock the grandfather of Mr. Mock settled in 1815 and a postoffice with Matthias Mock as postmaster was established here in 1836 and called Mud Creek. Mud Creek flows into Fourche at the old Dock Ingram farm, now known as the Price place. Glaze Creek has its head in the low hills between Middle­ brook and Supply, near the Missouri-Arkansas state line, to state it roughly. It is a short stream which empties into Current River not far from the old Pitman ferry .. Near this creek is located Glaze Creek Church of Christ, ,vhich is one of the oldest churches of this faith in northeast Arkansas. On this creek, which was known in the early records as "Glaze Kenonu creek, were located "improvements" and pre-emp­ tion claims as early as 1812. The villages of Supply, Minorca and Pitman are all located near this creek. Wells creek got its name from the early Wells family who settled along its banks in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. Dial's Creek in northwest Randolph County also got its name from an early family. Wells Creek is in the west­ ern part of the county.

[75] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Camp Creek, Tennessee Creek and Tattle Creek all flow in to Fourche from the west side and are located near the center of the county. Camp Creek got its name from the Camp family. Tennessee Creek got its name because so many of the early settlers along its bank came from that state. Just how Tattle Creek obtained its name is not known to the writer. Mansker Creek, which flows along the north city limits of Pocahontas, got its name from George Mansker who settled here about 1817. Mansker had a large family ,vhich later located mostly in the Maynard and Little Black com­ munities. Many of the early families of the central part of the county intermarried in this family. Among these were the Mock, Ingram, Richardson, Rice, Lindsey and Fisher families. There are many lesser important streams in· the county, but practically all the early families settled along these streams before they moved into the larger river bottoms which were universally called "swamps" by these first setders.

OUR NOTED SPRINGS IN RANDOLPH COUNIT At Warm Springs and Ravenden Springs are located noted springs. While they are undeveloped, especially at Warm Springs, they have mineral content ,vhich makes them valuable as a health resort. From 1870 to about 1905 many people in bad . health, especially from the lowlands, spent several weeks each year vacationing at Warm Springs. At one time there was a forty­ room hotel on the site of the springs and the town sa,v a boom which lasted several years. At Ravenden Springs is the spring which contains mineral properties which are reputed to be a big help in some forms of stomach trouble. This was supposed to have been discovered by a man's dream. More will be said about both of these to,vns in the proper chapter. The county abounds in a lot more gushing cold springs ,vhich afford some of the best water in the nation.

[76] GENERAL HISTORY

RAILROADS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY The actual history of railroad building in so far as ·it concerns . Rando~ph County "almost" started as early as October, 1849. In that month the first survey started from the U. S. Arsenal in St. Louis and was made from there to the "big bend" -in Red River at Fulton in south Arkansas. The ,vork ,vas supervised by Capt. Josiah Barney of the U. S. Topographical Engineering Corps. The movement was spon­ sored by the United States government in an effort to pro­ inote interest in the settlement of the new state of Texas. Captain Barney originally planned a railroad route from St. Louis to Iron Mountain and then down some tributary of Black River to Poplar Bluff and on down through Ran­ dolph County to the southern destination. He planned that if it ,vas too difficult to follow Black River closely to cross the divide· between Black and Current River and run down Current to Black River and Pocahontas. Either route would have ra~ t~rough Pocahontas. This was the birth of the movement that finally resulted in the building of the railroad no,v kno,vn as the Missouri Pacific. ··The story comes to us that Capt. Barney made an error in his calculations for crossing the "Coppermine ridge" benveen St. Louis-and Iron Mountain and ran his survey too far south. This route ,vould have required a long tunnel. He tried another survey and ran down St. Francis valley to the lo,vlands at old Indian Ford. Here he crossed over to Poplar. Bluff and ran straight from Poplar Bluff to Fulton. This survey ran down the present route of the Missouri Pacific. He crossed the comer of Randolph County in July, ~_850. But no !3.ilro~d ,vas built from his survey. In 1852 the St. Louis, Iron ~fountain Railway Co. was chartered and a survey made by J. H. Morley. This was the s_urvey adopted and it ran the same route as Barney's from Poplar Bluff south, touching Randolph County only at the extreme southeast comer~ at O'Kean.

[77] HISTOR·Y OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The Iron Mountain line actually only ran to the Mis­ souri line. The line from the state line south to Fulton was known as the Cairo and Fulton. It was chartered in 1853. Roswell Beebe was the first president. This road was spon­ sored principally by men in Little Rock. The first through train over this track, which was the first train through Randolph County, was in December, 1872, twenty-three years after the first survey was made and two years after the first shovel of dirt was handled in the actual construction. In 1874 the Cairo and Fulton and the St. Louis-Iron Mountain was consolidated. In 1917 the name was changed to the Missouri Pacific. This was Randolph County's first railroad, although it only crossed the county a distance of two and one-half miles. The next railroad to touch the county was the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis road which was built between 1872 and 1882 from Memphis to Kansas City. After cro~ing the level land from Memphis to Jones• boro, it crossed over Crowley's Ridge there and ran in a northwesterly direction by way of Hoxie to start its long upward climb through the Ozarks, at Black Rock. Here if entered the Spring River valley which it followed to Mam­ moth Spring. After leaving Mammoth Spring, the line starts a steady climb up through the Ozark foothills to reach the table land near Springfield, which slopes away to the Kan- . . sas praines. The exact date of the first survey along this route is not known to the author. Some preliminary work was done in 1872. Several surveys were made. At one time a route up Elevenpoint River by way of Thomasville in Oregon tounty, Missouri, was considered. The high hills of the watershed between Elevenpoint and Current River were an obstacle to this route. The Myatfs creek valley and the long gently sloping basin in the vicinity of West Plains proved to be an easier way of reaching the tablelan~ referred to above. 'Ihe

[78] GENERAL HISTORY road was completed in 1882. This road croSw~s a tiny neck of Randolph County, in the extreme southwest comer. Slightly over eleven hundred feet of track is aMesSed to· the Wyatt School District No. 67 of Randolph County. The road missed Ravenden Springs six miles and the town of Raven­ den, first known as ''Ravenden Junction,'• just across the line in Lawrence County, sprang up as a result. Another survey for this road ran up Janes creek, but met the same fate as the Elevenpoint route. The third and most important railroad in Randolph County, in so far as the county itself is concerned, is the present Frisco line, known at this time as the Cape Girardeau­ Hoxie branch of the St. Louis-San Francisco. The first part of this line was begun in 1896, after sev• eral surveys had been made. This was the line from Poca• hontas to Hoxie and was known as the Hoxie-Pocahontas and Northern Railway Company. It was sponsored by local people, with the help of eastern capital. Six years later the line from Poplar Bluff to Pocahontas was completed. It was known as the South Missouri and Arkansas Railroad. The northeastern end of the line had been built in 190 I down to Poplar Bluff. For a period of about six years the trains ran up to Pocahontas from Hoxie, and back. But this was a wonderful day for the town when it was completed. Mer­ chandise, etc., shipped from Memphis, St. Louis, Little Rock, Kansas City and other places came "to our very door,,. as one resident of the time stated. Merchants in the northern part of the county who had been going to Harviell, on the main line of the St. Louis-Iron Mountain line since 1872 for their merchandise, ( until the branch line of the St. Louis-Iron ~fountain was built from Neelyville to Doniphan about 1885) could now come to their own county seat for their merchandise which was "shipped in.0 The story of the building of the Frisco through the county is pretty well known. That part from Hoxie to Poca-

[79 l HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY hontas was built ,vith very little change in the first survey. But that part from Success, in Clay County, by way of the to,vns of Reyno and Biggers to Pocahontas, ·was the source of much ",vire pulling." Several surveys were made. The first survey considered going only to Corning on the Iron Mountain line. This did not materialize. The chief idea seemed to be to come south from Poplar Bluff to Pocahontas. The first survey ,vith this in mind, ran by ,vay of the town of Reyno. The to,vn that ,vas kno,vn as Reyno at that time was on the site of ,vhat is no,v kno,vn as the "Old Reyno" community, where the Biggers Auxiliary Airfield ,vas built during \Vorld War II. After passing Old Reyno the survey ran down the midd]e of Cherokee Bay to cross Current River near the present Highw·ay 67 bridge, then called Mcilroy's Ferry, and on across the s,vamplands to Pocahontas. If this survey had been used, it is very probable that a large town would have gro,vn up on the site of Old Reyno instead of two smaller ones at Reyno and Biggers. This survey ran south of Biggers some distance. There ,vas no to,vn here at that time, but the late B. F. Biggers and others O\vned land along the river and improvements had been made here. The second survey pulled the line aw·ay from O Id Reyno to the north, running as close to the river at ·what is no,v Biggers as possible. The citizens of Old ·Reyno protested vigorously, but to no avail. The road ,vas ·built as we see it today, missing Old Reyno about two miles. The result was that the to,vn of Biggers soon started build• ing. Not to be outdone, the folks living at Old Reyno moved to the ne,v railroad, two miles due north, and started a to,vn for themselves ,vith the same name. \Vhole buildings ,vere ·rolled to the ne,v location. This resulted in the birth of the towns of Reyno and Biggers on the railroad and the death ·of Old Reyno and Johnstontown on the river. This line runs a distance of a little over twenty-two miles ·in Randolph County. Such is the story of our county7 s railroads.

[80] GENERAL HISTORY

The coming of the raiiroads saw the deciine of the steamboats. Pocahontas has the distinction of being the only town in the county lvhich ,vas both an important river town and also a leading spot on the new railroad. The first means of transportation into this.section lvas the old Military road. The next the steamboat. Next came the railroad. \Ve now have motor truck freight lines and passenger bus lines. Holv long will it be until ,ve have freight and passengers transported by regular scheduled air lines?

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN RANDOLPH COUNTY

'The following article, which is a nice outline of the ,vork of establishing and maintaining the Catholic Church in Randolph County, ,vas written by Mrs. Mary Wyllie Monday. It gives the reader a list of the names, etc.,. of the first families of this church who came to the county.. -. · "Al though the assertion is supported more by tradition than by documentary evidence, Catholicy has existed in what is no,v Randolph County since that era when pioneer set­ tlers ,vere pressing ever ,vestward and south,vard in the early days of the American nation. Drifting down from Ohio, Illi­ nois and upper Missouri; from the hills of Kentucky and Tennessee and the far-alvay fields of Georgia. Also, up ~e river road from Louisiana to the now long-vanished towµ of_ Davidsonville came Spanish and French families, lured by the promise of new lands. "True, it ,vas not the definitely organized Catholicy that -followed the advent of Fathers O'Kean, Weibel and Saettle. rather it was an adherence to the Church as a point of farm1y history by individuals ,vho, despite their inability to prac­ ·tice the main parts of their creed, retained the name and at least some of the more familiar practices-the sign of the cross and recitation of certain typifying prayers. A generation

[81] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY ago there were still natives of the county who could recall that their forebears came 'from across the waters,' and whom they guessed to be Catholics because they had a rosary, prayer book or a Catholic Bible. "Further evidence arguing the presence of Catholics in the county is found in the history of the ghost-town of Davidsonville, once seat of justice for all northern Arkansas and southern Missouri and site of the first postoffice in Arkansas. The story of the once flourishing little town recounts the presence of French and Spanish Catholics among its several hundred citizens and records a visit in 1824 of two Jesuit priests, Fathers Odin and Timon, from Boise Brulle, near St. Louis. "Irregularly, until the establishment of the Diocese of Little Rock, Ran~olph County was attended by priests from New Madrid, Missouri. That Pocahontas was the only Cath­ olic mission in the region is indicated by the fact that Cath­ olics from the 'Irish Wilderne~' in southern Missouri brought their dead to be buried in the little cemetery on the western outskirt of the little village. "In 1867 Father James P. O'Kean of Memphis, Tenn., an Irishman and a Confederate veteran, ,vhil~ a passenger on a Mississippi River steamer, joined a group of busin~ men from Pocahontas. During the course of their conversation these men invited Father O'Kean to hold a series of lectures in Pocahontas., promising to secure a building for the meeting place. Father O'Kean agreed to request permission of his Bish~p to come to Pocahontas and conduct a series of lectures explaining Catholic doctrine. At the close of the services. held in a vacant store building near the court square, the citizens., eager to secure for their town the stabilizing influ­ ence of another church, offered to build a church for him. Colonel Marvin made a deed conveying a tract of land on the heights on i:he west side of town to the Diocese of Little Rock. Volunteer donations of money and free labor, prin-

(821 GENERAL HISTORY cipally by Protestants and Je,vs (there being less than a dozen Catholics in the county at the time), only a year later had the little frame building ready for the soldier-priest. Among the original members of the tiny parish, which Father O'Kean dedicated to St. Paul the Apostle, were Nicholas Bach, his sister, Mrs. Cizert, and her son, Nicholas; the family of John Bossiere and a Mr. Hogan. "The family of Dr. James Campbell Esselman; his niece, Miss Nannie Lansdale; a nephew, George Esselman; Dan Monday; Dr. Putnam's family; Miss M. E. Smith and Wil­ liam Jarrett are among the first names registered in the baptismal record of the new parish. "When Father O'Kean left, four years later, to become Rector of St. Andrew's Cathedral in Little Rock, he left a parish of about one hundred members. "From 1872 to 1879 Father Thomas Reilly was pastor of St. Paul's. "In 1879 Father Eugene Weibel, a Benedictine monk from the University of Einsedeln, Switzerland, was appointed to fill the pastorate. "A vigorous impetuous to the growth of the parish and to the county came in the early '80's, when Father Weibel secured for Pocahontas a representative part of the great tide of immigrants flowing into the United States from Europe and the British Isles. From Germany, Switzerland, Holland, Belgium, Saxony and Bavaria; from Ireland and Scotland they came to build their homes and sink their · roots deep into the soil of Randolph County. The annals of Randolph·s progr~ records such names as Walters, Peters, \Vorms, DeClerk, Spinnenweber, Geiser, Frenken, Derris, Hellmond, Winkels, Shippers, Gergardt, Jansen, Martin, Wyllie, Bro­ del, Rager, Monday, Schneider, Throesch, Walterscheid, Ungerank, Liebhaber, Reiner, Sparber, Pfeiffer, Gerlach, Brunner, Thilemeier, Lesmeister, Baltz, Meier, Hauseman, Blwenbach~ Frangenberg, Frenkenberger, Schaechtel, Wurtz,

[831 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Jaeger, Zitzelberger, Scheid, Barthel, Dachs, Thiele, Seibold, Gsch,vend, Hollenstein, Doman, Junkersfeld, Hoffman, Hoelcher, Muyres, Thennes, Weisenbach, Neff, Geisinger, Seilers, Kronsiedler, Sense, Rothsinger; Ohlenforst~ Dangler, Eckstein, Eich, \Veibel, Roellen, Graf, Linder, Keifer, Mat­ tingly, Knoch, Steimel, Mons, Ausman, Bauer, Koechner, Zosso. Bergmann and Maasen. "The foreign immigrants experienced almost insur­ mountable difficulties-ignorance of the language and cus­ toms, fast dwindling finances, climatic conditions, many of them falling victims to the dreaded 'swamp fever.' The mortality rate among the· children ,vas appalling. Many of the newcomers quickly disposed of their property and left the county. Those ,vho remained, by their thrift and pro­ gressiveness, exercised a marked influence for good in the development of the county. The suspicion and often open hostility that had been directed at them in the beginning gave ,vay to friendliness and fello,vship. They brought about an almost revolutionary change in the agricultural system of the county. In .fact, this change in farming methods had been one of the openly voiced objections to acceptance of the for,;. eigners, as some of the native sons, accustomed to living off the land ,vith a n1ini1num of effort, complained: 'These Dutchmen,' (all foreign-speaking people ,vere indiscrimi­ nately classified as 'Dutchn1en') are going to ruin the country with their plow·ing and fencing. First thing ,ve know· .there ,von't be a tract of land left for hunting or for our_ stock to forage in. Life for the indolent of that day ,vas a simple matter of fishing, hunting, raising a fe,v s,veet potat_~ and a 'litt~e jag' of corn for bread. Deer, ,vild turkeys and gam~ ?f. ~II sorts ,\·ere plentiful. "\\Then a man established a 'meat claim~ by placing a pair or t,vo of hogs in the vast acreage 9£ cane brakes (n the lush river bottoms,. all he had to do 1vas drive into the brakes in the fall and kill enough hogs for all the meat and lard his family ,vould require. Quite naturally he resented the intrusion into his Utopia by the foreigners.

(841 GENERAL .HISTORY

"Today Randolph stands proudly in the front ranks of agriculture in the state and many of the homesteads of these immigr~nts are among the finest farms in the county. . "In· 1884 Father \Veibel opened a grammar school· in Pocahontas and placed it in charge of a quartette of Benedic­ tine nuns from Conception, Missouri, Sister Beatrice, Sister Agnes, Sister Frances and Sister Walburga. "Prior to the coming of the Benedictine Sisters, four Sis­ ters of the Dominican Order came to Pocahontas but did not remain long. "Soon the Sisters built a commodious convent and quite a community of nuns and novices lived in Pocahontas, in the Convent Maria Stein, ,vhere they taught school, music, needlecraft and painting. Later they opened an academy and boarding school for girls. Young men and young ladies of the city were accepted as day students. "In 1886 Father Weibel built the church of St. John the Baptist in Engelberg in Columbia township, for the conveni­ ence of the large number of Catholics ·who had settled in the fertile lands watered by Fourche du l\Ias and Current rivers. The rural parish flourished and soon outgrew· the capacity of the little church. Father A. G. Haeringer, ·while pastor of St. John's built the handsome church and school on the parish property in Engelberg. .A. comfortable home for the sisters ,vho teach the school occupies a part of the spacious lawn. A rectory of native fieldstone ,vas added to the parish property by Rev. H. \V. Nix about I 939. . uFrequently, for months at a time, St. Paul's and St. John's parishes were without a resident pastor, priests from other parts of the state filling the vacancies. "In 1889 The Rev. Henry Fuerst ,vas pastor of St. Paul's. A musician of no small range, he soon organized a St. Cecilia Society in the parish, and a short time had trained a credible

(85] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY choir among its members. Father Fuerst's pastorate extended to 1898. "From 1898 to 1908 Father Mathew Saettle, O.S.B., was pastor of St. Paul's. Through his powerful efforts the beau­ tinil church crowning 'Catholic Hill' in Pocahontas, was built. Of native limestone, hand-hewn, it stands a living monument to the humble Benedictine monk. During the time of his pastorate in Pocahontas, Father Mathew built a small church in Noland, in East Roanoke township. The churches in Noland and Engelberg were attended by the pastor of St. Paurs in Pocahontas for many years. The little church in Noland was destroyed by fire some years later. In 1908 Father Joseph Froitzheim succeeded Father Mathew in Pocahontas. A scholar and an executive, Father Froitzheim recognizing the value of concentcated effort, organized several powerful units in the parish. The Young Peoplets Society, the Ladies, Club, the Holy Name Society for men and a council of the Knights of Columbus. A large parish hall was built and equipped for social activities. In 1922 a two-year Junior High course was added to the par~ chial school. " 'Father' Froitzheim, as he preferred to be called, although wearing the ecclesiastical purple of the Monsignori, was pastor of St. Paul's until July 13, 1930, when he suc­ cumbed to a heart attack. "The Rev. Monsignor A. G. Haeringer was appointed to succeed Monsignor Froitzheim, serving as pastor from July, 1930, to June, 1939. One of the first movements he inaug­ urated in the parish was the erection of a suitable monument to the memory of Monsignor Froitzheim. Wit4 his approval the local Knights of Columbus built a grotto on the site of the first Catholic church in Pocahontas. It is one of the finest reproductions of the famous shrine in Lourdes, France, to be found in America.

[86] GENERAL HISTORY

"Toe Rev. Edward J. Yeager was appointed pastor of St. Paul's in June, 1939. A progressor for nine years in Catholic High School in Little Rock! Father Yeager accomplished marvelous improvements for the parochial school in Poca­ hontas. He replaced the two-year Junior class with a com­ plete four-year high school course, housing it temporarily in the auditorium of the parish hall. Partitions ingeniously fashioned to fold out of the way when the auditorium was needed for social activities, segregated the class rooms. Father Yeager was completing plans for a new and modem school building and a completely equipped hospital for Pocahontas at the time of his death, June 26, 1946. Father Thomas Ken­ nedy, assistant rector of St. Paul's, is continuing the work begun by Father Yeager. "The little parish established in 1868 is now recognized as one of the outstanding parishes of Arkansas."

RANDOLPH COUNTY NEWSPAPERS

Randolph County has had many newspapers in the years since the first one was established in 1858. In that year two newspapers were started. The Herald, which was published by Prof. Norman and Dr. Boshears, and the Weekly Adver­ tiser, published by Joseph T. Fisher. Two years later, in 1860,. James T. Martin became owner of both papers and con­ solidated the plants to publish one paper called the Adver­ tiser and Herald. It was destroyed by Federal soldiers in 1863. In 1865 Edwin Rockwell established the Courier. He sold the paper in 1867 to T. J. Ratcliffe and J. H. Purkins, who changed the name of the paper to the Black River Stand­ ard. The paper ceased publication one year later and the equipment was purchased by Thomas L. Martin, a Repub­ lican, who started the Randolph County Express in July, 1868. The same month Edwin Rockwell and Joseph Huf­ stedler established the Randolph County Courier which was

[87] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY consolidated ,vith the Express a short time later. This paper died in 1873. In 1869 the Randolph Republican ,vas started but was unsuccessful. It appears that this was on account of the citi­ zens of that day "just ,vouldn't have anything that was Re­ publican." It ,vas in this paper that the advertisements appeared, advettising for bids for the construction of the sec­ ond courthouse, no,v called the old courthouse. Later the Scalpel was established by J. H. Purkins and Edwin Rock,vell. J. A. C. Jackson purchased an interest in this paper after the death of Rockwe11, and continued to be active in the publication until 1882 when he sold out to W. A. Lucas. Soon after Lucas became o,vner the plant burned and the paper ,vas not revived. In 1881 the Herald ,vas established at Ravenden Springs by C. \V. and L.A. Dunifer. Prior to this time all papers had been printed at Pocahontas. In June, 1882, the Herald ,vas moved to Pocahontas, and the name changed to the Randolph Herald. J. N. Bolen bought the Randolph Herald from the Dunifers in 1885. Sometime during this period B. B. Mor­ ton established a paper in Pocahontas and called it the Poca­ hontas Free Press. This paper was sold to Bolen soon after it was started. In 1895 Prof. R. L. \Villiford and S. 0. Penick started a paper at ~1Iaynard and called it the Pilot. ,villiford sold his interest to Rufus Lindsey. Penick and Lindsey moved the paper to Pocahontas. ..-\. few· months after the paper ,vas moved to Pocahontas the o,vners bought out the Randolph Herald and changed the name to the Herald-Pilot. Lindsey sold out to Penick and moved back to ~faynard ,vhere he established the Northeast Arkansas Enterprise in I 897. Three years later Mr. Lindsey died and the paper was sold to parties at Doniphan, Missouri. The first ne,vspaper which the author remembers ,vas the well kno,rn "Boom Edition" of the Maynard Enterprise which ,vas published by Mr. Lindsey

[88] GENERAL HISTORY

a short time before his death.• which was a vearI before this ,vriter was born. This edition was a boost for Randolph County, Arkansas, and Ripley County, Missouri, and· con­ tained the names of many persons living today who were active in busine~ at that date. S. 0. Penick, who owned the Herald-Pilot after Lindsey went back to Maynard, sold out to J. N. Bolen, the former owner, who changed the name back to Randolph Herald. Bolen sold out once more in 1898 to A. T. Hull, who sold it to C. E. Spiller in 1899. Spiller died in 1900. L. F. Blank­ enship bought the paper in 1901 and the paper has been owned by the Blankenship family ever since. However, there has been several changes and partnerships. In 1902 Earl W. Hodges moved the Spring River News to Pocahontas and changed the name to Pocahontas News. The Herald and News were consolidated in 1903 and the name News-Herald was adopted. J. N. Bolen once more entered the newspaper field in 1902 when he and J. A. C. Jackson established the Randolph County Democrat, but this paper was discontinued in a fe,v months. The Hodges-Blankenship partnership lasted until 1904 when Hodges moved to Little Rock to become print­ ing clerk in the statehouse. The Pocahontas Star was con­ solidated with the News-Herald in 1907. V. G. Hinton, who was the owner of the News-Herald, became a partner with L. F. Blankenship and the name of the paper was changed to Star-Herald, which it has held until the present time. David Lindsey and Oscar Wyatt held interest in the Star-Herald for some time but for several years the sole owners have been the Blankenship family, since the death of Mr. Blankenship in 1930. Other papers which have been established in Randolph County are the Maynard Backlog, in 1907; the Enterprise at Biggers in 1904; the Current River Banner at Biggers in 1906. The editors of the above named papers ,vere W. T.

[89] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Warren, V. G. Hinton, J. N. Davenport and D. A. Lindsey. The Sentinel at l\,faynard in I 907, by R. J. Wyatt; the Eye­ Opener at Ravenden Springs in 1899, by \V. F. Lemmons (name changed to the Hustler ,vith John Chun as o,vner); the Cherokee Headlight, by L. F. Blankenship, at Biggers in 1910; another Ravenden Springs Hustler in 1911 by R. L. Byrne; the Ravenden Springs Weekly News by Chas. A. Dixon in 1908; the Randolph County Clipper by Roy Elliott in l 909; the Pocahontas Times in 19 l 2 by R. N. Schoonover and later H. B. Dixon; the Randolph Democrat in 1917 by A. H. Chapin, later by A . .J. Lewis, and still later by Neal Douglass, Orto Finley and "\V. S. Tussey; the Randolph County Dernocral by James \V. Case in 1931. The Democrat ,vas published from 1931 until 1937.

RA.NDOLPH COUNTY'S PART IN \VAR

There was no white man known to have been living in Randolph County at the time of the Revolutionary war. A scattered population ,vas here when the '\Var of 1812 ,vas fought. No one went from this section to see action in this ,var. The chief influence of the War of 1812 on Randolph County ,vas the influx of population ,vhich came west as soon as hostilities had ceased and the ne,v United States could turn its mind to,vard things of peace and development. The earlv deed records shon'" ,vhere a fe,v soldiers of that ,var J received land grants here, giYen thetn by the government for their service~ in this second fight \\'"ith the British. Of course, as has been stated before in this book, there 1\'·ere a fe,v men ,vho had served in the Revolution who came west and established homes in this county. We wish that ,ve had the names of all these, but this is impossible. Some of those ,ve know ,vere Edmund Hudson, John Janes, Daniel Lieb, John Dalton, John Davidson and others.

[90] GENERAL HISTORY

vVe have aiready ,vritten a separate chapter on the part our county played in the Civil War, so we will refer .the reader to that section if more is desired to be known about the period of that conflict. In 1898, although almost one-half a century ago now, was the year of the conflict with Spain. This short war was known as the Spanish-American War. Several citizens of the county at this time were soldiers in this war. It was in this war that the island of Cuba was freed of Spanish bondage and made a free nation. It was in this war that we came into possession of the Philippine Islands. These valuable tropical islands lie off the coast of Asia and were the scene of much hard fighting during the days following December 7, 1941. \Vhile a valuable addition to the United States from a com­ mercial standpoint, they are a liability from a military stand­ point. Some may disagree with the author in this, but dur­ ing the days following the Spanish-American War one noted statesman who opposed th~ seizure of the islands by the United States said that some day they would be the cause of us becoming involved in a major war. This prophecy came true at the beginning of the last war. Jealousy, greed and competition between our nation and the Japanese over affairs connected with the Philippines brought on the Pearl Harbor attack. Almost one-fifth of a century elapsed after the war with Spain before ,ve again became involved in another major ,var. (This does not count the flare-up with Mexico in 1915.) ,ve have here passed up the ,var ,vith Mexico during the 1840's when several of our early settlers ,vent do,m on the border to help Texas lvin her independence from that nation. It was in this conflict that we remember Davy Crockett, Archibald Yell and others, the latter from Arkansas. Nineteen years after Admiral Dewey steamed into Manila Bay to clean up the Spanish fleet ,ve find our nation once

[911 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY more on the brink of a major war which became known as the first World War. The war in continental Europe which had been going on since June, 1914, had finally found us involved. The story which leads up to our participation is well known. First ,vas the various recommendations and regulations imposed by the belligerent nations upon neutrals which were shipping food and war material to the enemy. Then came the block­ ade in which we were told to "stay out" of certain waters, etc. The final blow came with the sinking of the Lusitania, with many Americans on board. This was practically an act of war. The Germans denied the sinkings. The English who were needing our help desperately fanned the fires of h~tred between our country and Germany for purely selfish reasons. Time may yet expose some startling things yet unrevealed in the affairs of international relations involving Britain and other nations during this tjme of strained rela­ tions. Just who did sink the grea~ vessel may never be known, but we do know that it did have the effect of bringing us abruptly into the war when we were attempting to remain neutral. The remainder of the story is s~ll imprinted deeply on our minds. On February 3, 1917, we severed diplomatic relations with Germany. On April 4 we declared war. On June 5 we called our young men in to register under the Conscription Act. In a few days we began to see them called into army camps scattered throughout the nation and a few months found them fighting in the trenches of France, Bel­ gium and other countries of C(?ntinental Europe. Many of our sons and brothers made the supreme sacrifice "on Flan­ ders Field" and other places. After a little over a year in the fighting we saw Kaiser \Vilhelm abdicate the thr(?ne and flee to Holland. On November II, 1918, we sa,v the ,var come to a close. The world accepted the peace with joy. They said the boys had just fought uthe war to end ,vars," and everybody was happy.

[92] GENERAL HISTORY

. The slow moving boats began to bring our fighters home. Wartime inflation had begun to take its toll industriaily and dornestically. Natives of Europe who no longer needed our men began to complain and turn a cold shoulder to our men. Wartime obligations began to mature. France, Britain and a few smaller nations turned a cold shoulder to our requests for payments due us for loans which spelled their very exist­ ence. Twenty-eight years have passed and they are still unpaid. Why? Why loan them more? Then came the lean years. After that tlie New Deal, and after that another world war. The all-over picture of the conditions of the last war were strikingly similar to the first one. We all remember the conditions which came about which brought on World War II. Jealousy between the British empire and Hitler's expanding European empire was kin­ dling enough to start any conflagration. The zero hour came when the armies of Germany began to overrun Poland over the protest of several major powers, including France. With this came open warfare between the big nations of Europe, excepting Russia, which remained neutral for a time, her attitude and sympathy swaying back and forth between the two warring sides. Finally Hitler, thinking that he was going to win anyway, decided to attack Russia and ,vhip her along with the British and French and have the job done, when the war finally ended. He made one grave mistake-he judged correctly when he decided that Russia was weak. industrially and financially, but she was strong numerically. All she needed was tools with which to fight. She had plenty of men to use them. Jealousy benveen the United States and Japan was kin­ dled by secret underground forces backed by Hitler. Hitler's men spread propaganda in Japan against our country, and British and French spies and undercover men added their bit of the same tactics, except on the other side. Hard

[93] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY tense feelings grew up between our country and Japan, anf] it only needed a spark to set off the fire. This came when our nation made various recommendations and demands on Japan in regards to her off-color movements in the East Indies. The representatives of the Japanese government and high officials in \Vashington were supposed to be working ori the problem of a peaceful settlement of the differences benveen the two nations when the Japanese attacked us in Ha,vaii at Pearl Harbor on that never-to-be-forgotten Decem­ ber 7; 1941. The balance of the story is known to all. Everything went into the big job of winning the war. All commercial and industrial plants in the nation were con­ verted into ,var plants. Our young men from 18 to 45 years of.age ,vere ordered to register (those who had not done so previously in the first peace-time conscription our nation ever baa, September 16, 1938) . Many in this group were called. Something over twelve hundred from Randolph County actually saw service in some branch of the army or navy. The actual figures are not available at this time. About forty-five made the supreme sacrifice. As was typical of the ,vhole nation, Randolph County ,vent "all out" for ,var, and besides furnishing the cream of our young manhood, ,ve also furnished hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash in the various ,var bond drives and other wartime calls, including the Red Cross, war relief, etc. In fact, at this time we are still sending thousands of dollars in food, clothing, etc., to war­ torn Europe and other parts_ of the ,vorld-a year after the c-lose of the first part of the conflict. Our nation ,vas engaged in actual warfare a period of three years, eight months and seven days from the day Pearl Harbor was attacked to the day Japan surrendered. Germany ,vent do,rn three months and six days sooner. These were bitter years for many Randolph County folks. Fathers ,vho had been married several years and ,vere sober, settled men engaged in making a Ii ving for their families were jerked up and sent away to foreign soil, away from their

[94] GENERAL HISTORY families. Youths still in school .were taken to the camps and subjected to the same rules and regulations as the hardened regular. Rationing ,vas placed on almost every necessary com­ modity. Wartime mushroom prosperity appeared to under­ mine the stable peacetime economic and financial structure. General unrest spread over the country. Folks became used to easy money-high ,vages-and other unnatural conditions ,vhich ,vartime brings. All this is a part of ,var. Human life and ,velfare is the uppermost concern in any ,var, but there are a lot of bad things which go with war besides actual combat and death. \Var has no rightful place in a civilized world. War is always "justified" during the period of actual fighting, but there is no true justification for ,var. The reader may disagree with the author but it is a fact that ,var is the most destructive and demoralizing agent ,vhich mankind is heir to. It not only kills and maims; it destroys morals, initiative; upsets normal living and bankrupts the nations involved, and works hardships on the ,vorld at large. It ·will be a bright day for the nation and the world as well ·when ·we have n1en in our legislative and diplomatic departments of our govenunent ,vho ·work continually for a ,vorld of peace instead of bickering and manipulating in the affairs of international importance-men ,vho ·will sit do,vn at a table and ,vork out the differences and petty jealousies instead of supporting a drove of undercover men who do nothing but stir up strife. Envy and greed are the underlying causes of almost all ,vars. Another serious cause of ,var is agreements, treaties, etc. Our forefathers ,vho founded this nation warned us about "entangling foreign alliances." If ,ve had heeded their ,vaming l\Te ,vould have saved ourselves untold grief and loss. \Ve hope the time is near ,vhen the ,vorld ,vill realize that it is far better to get along peacefully than to fight.

[95] Miscellaneous

Part Two

[96] OFFICIALS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY SINCE ITS FORMATION Date Representative County .. Judge Circuit Clerk County Clerk Sheriff Treasurer Asacasor 1835 .. 1836 t;,J, Anthony P. R. Pitman None Wm. Black None None 1836-1838 • Pilbourn P, R, Pitman BB,•• f Wiley None Wm. Black B. M. Simpson None 1838 .. 1840 None P, R, Pitman B, , Wiley None Wm. Black lNewlana None 1810 .. 1812 W. A, Houaton P, R, Pitman B. , Wiley None 1· H. Imboden Newland None 18-t2-1844 W. M, Mitchell ~ame,, Martin lt . Imboden None· • Spikes Newland None 1814-1816 ~ B, Anthony ames Martin , 0. Marr None . Spikes Newla.nd None 1816 .. 1848 , R, Baker , J• Wiley T. 0, Marr None J. Spikes , L. Rice None 1848 .. 1850 H, Mcllroy B, • Wfley T,O.Marr None WSplkes W. L. Rice None 1850-1852 H. Mcilroy bames Martin L. F. thnston None hn Chandler W, L. Rice None W, R, Hunter C. alker None . G. Murphy Cross None 1852 .. 1854 •J• WIiey li WD,0, Cross None 1854-1856 W. R, Cain Ingram , L, Urmston None W. G. Murphy 1856 .. 1858 Mic::hael Beahoara tP, , Ingram E. L. Urmston None W. G. Murphy D. Cross None • W, Douthitt None 1858-1860 ~ H, Purklns P, In ram 1· B. Kelsey None D. C. Black 1860-1862 H, Purklns m, Tgompson , B. Kelsey None 0, C, Black W. W, Douthitt None 1862-1864 one· Henry Coclcrum • B. Kelsey None Mabton McNabb W, W, Douthitt. L. F. fohnston 1864 .. 1866 F, Harrison Henry Cockrum C, C. Elder None S. M. Trul, Thomas Foster L. P. ohnston 1866-1868 t Hufstedler Henry Cockrum C. C. Bider None O. C~ Blac Thomas Foster L. F. ohnston 1868 .. 1872 , B, Janes G, V, Corey Edwin Rockwell Nqne G. A. Baton A. J. Pace 0. C. Downey W. G, Matheney Comm lssloners , T. Robinson None T. Fisher ~ Hufstedler L• 0. Wtatt 1872 .. 1874 t • S, Bennett . W. T ompson 1874 .. 1876 ~ Dodson Isham Ru111ell • T, Robinson· Ncirie F. S&lkes • Schoonover None • C. lack J. W. Slaron H, Rkharason 1876 .. 1878 • Pierce ~• H, Purkln11 tH, Richardson 1878 .. 1880 R. H. Black , J• Johnaon • Schoonover None Wibb Conner A.H. Kib er 1880-1882 Thomas Foater S. , ohnson , Schoonover None Wlbb Conner A. H. Kibler H. Richardson 1882-1884 R, C. Mack H, Richardson , T. Robinson None A.l Witt A, H, Kibler • H, Aohnston 1884-1886 Per

THE POCAHONTAS uCOURTHOUSE GANG" IN 1946

The folks who work in the courthouse in Pocahontas are no different and no better than a lot of other folks in Ran­ dolph County, and the fact is they do not deserve any more notice except for the fact that they happen to be the ones ,vith whom the author ,vorked during the past two years. This is during the time ,ve have been engaged in the job of being the county treasurer and writing a history of the county on the side. For the above reason we thought it would not be out of line to record for the future just who composed the "Court­ house Gang" in 1945 and 1946. So here goes: John L. Bledsoe is judge of the Sixteenth Judicial Dis­ trict of Arkansas. He and his family came to Pocahontas from Izard County about twenty years ago. His wife was a member of a 1vell known family of that section. - Harrell Simpson is the prosecuting attorney for the same district. He came here about six years ago from Independ­ ence County. His 1vife is a daughter of 1\-fr. and Mrs. F. E. Belford. Belfords have been long time residents of Cherokee Bay and her maternal relatives are the Hatley and Johnston fa1nilies 1vho have been residents of the county almost a century. County Judge Oscar Prince is a native of Janes Creek tolvnship and is a member of the related Prince-Higginbot­ ham-Bloodworth families of that section. Mrs. Prince is a daughter of the late John D. Campbell, a member of one of the first families ,vho came to Lawrence County. Walter \V. Jack.son, Randolph County representative in the state Legislature, hails from the Hamil community and is a member of an early family of the county. His wife was a Tyler, another family ,vhich has been in the county since about 1840.

[98] MISCELLANEOUS

Sheriff and Collector Guy Amos came to Pocahontas from the Shiloh community. He is a member of the Amos, Haynes, Mcllroy, Pratt and other families of the county. ~rs. Amos was a Going and her mother a Looney. Both are early fami­ lies of the county, the Looney family being one of the first to settle on Elevenpoint River. Earle Tilley, tax assessor, is a native of Richardson township and is a member of the related Tilley, Kerley, Red­ ,vine and Ingram families of eastern Randolph County. His ,vife ,vas an Evans, another family of the same community. Circuit Clerk Carl Brown is a member of one of the early Brown families of western Randolph County. His wife was a Fry. The Fry family was one of the first settlers in the Ravenden Springs community. \Vesley Nibert, county clerk, is a native of Columbia township, a few miles north of Pocahontas. His mother was a Hall. His wife was a Rice. The Rices, Stubblefields, Mcll­ roys and Looneys ,vere related families who settled on Eleven­ p

[991 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY late Jack Cole ,v-ho was related to the Holt and Phillips families of \Vann Springs. Mrs. -Cole's assistant, Mrs. 'Frank Wallace, was a Barden and related to the Hufstedler and Barden families of Roanoke township. The Wa]laces came here from eastern Clay County.

In . the Federal. offices in the courthouse are Mrs. Mildred Dalton, Mrs. Bill Bates and several "newcomers.u Mrs. Dal- ~on is the wife of Mack D~lton of Dalton. She was a H·ughes. l\f rs. Bates is a member of the Keith-Lindsey family. Uncle Dan Bates, who keeps the lawn mowed so nicely and the inside of the courthouse so spick and span, came to Pocahontas many years ago from the southwestern part of the county. His wife was a Hancock. They reared a large family of boys and girls who are all gro,vn and doing all right for themselves. The deputies in the offices of the county officials are Oscar Burrow, in the sheriffs office. He is a member of the Burrow family, early residents of Warm Springs. His mother ,vas a Hubbs. Oscar,s ,vife was Mrs. Virginia McGlothlin from Little Rock. In the tax assessor's office, Green G. Davis is a deputy. He is of the Shaver-Davis family of Ingram township, early resi­ dents of the county. Mr. Davis10 wife died a few years ago. She was a Starling. The deputy circuit clerk is Laura Hogan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Will Hogan of Pocahontas. Both her parents are from the Ingram-Vernon community. Mrs. Hogan was an Early. The deputy county clerk is Mrs. Gene Pierce, wife of Douglas Pierce. She was a Holt and related to the early Holt, Moore and Howard families. Her husband is of the Pierce and Farrow families of near Water Valley. Betty, daughter of County Clerk Nibert, also assists in that office.

[100] MISCELLANEOUS

The state revenu~ collector for Randolph County is John Shivley, Jr. His family came to the Pitman community.many years ago. His mother was a Hawkins. His wife ,vas a Parish. all early families of eastern Randolph County. Charlcie Burr, ,vho ,vorks part time in the sheriff's office, is the wife of Charles Burr. She is a member of the Crismon Sago families who have resided in Columbia township a long time. · Ila Fowler, ,vho is Earl Smith's assistant in the county supervisor's office, is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Fowler and a member of two of the oldest families of Little Black township, the Fowlers and the Parishs. In the recent primary election Carl Brown was nominated for the office of sheriff and collector, Clifford Massey for tax assessor, Earl Chester for circuit clerk, and Bob Harvester for county clerk. They will go into office January I, 1947, and together with the two second-termers, Oscar Prince, county judge, and Lawrence Dalton, county treasurer, they will make up the "Courthouse Gang" for the years of 194 7-48, if nothing unforseen happens. Chester comes from Elm Store township; Carl Brow11 comes from the circuit clerk's office, where he has served two terms; Clifford Massey comes from Jackson township, and Bob Harvester lives in Pocahontas. Walter Jackson, representative; John L. Bledsoe, circuit judge, and Harrell Simpson are also holdovers from their present offices. Dr. J. E. Smith is state senator from this district, composed of Randolph, Lawrence and Sharp counties.

[101] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

ODDS AND ENDS OF RANDOLPH COUNTY HISTORY

In ,vritin the history of any community or nation there are a number of incidents which do not seem to fit in with any certain subject or chapter. The same is true of this history. Below we are relating various stories and interesting incidents which are of a miscellaneous nature.

WEATHER First ,ve ,vill talk of the ,veather. \Veather plays a major role in the life and ,velfare of the human race. Floods, storms and drouth are the three great destroyers, but extreme hot and cold come in for a part in the sho,v. This section has been visited by a number of destructive tornadoes, or cyclones, as they are most generally called in this country. About ten years before the Civil \Var a very destructive tor­ nado passed through Randolph County. Coming into the county near Imboden, it travelled by way of the present-day villages of Attica and Maynard and crossed Current River near Success. This path has been followed very closely several times within the memory of living persons. About 1916 a storm travelled across the county a few miles north of this path, and among other damage done, ble,v a,vay the Metho­ dist church at Siloam and the Church of Christ building at Glaze Creek.. A. number of people ,vere injured and a fe,v killed by this storm. On May 9, 1927, the ,vorst tornado of recent years crossed the county and killed a number of people and did a lot of damage. This was the storm which tore up the town of Hoxie in la'\\rrence County and killed around three hundred persons at Poplar Bluff. This storm passed just south of ~faynard and tore a path across the country from near Attica, across Richardson and Little Black townships and destroyed a lot of property and killed several people along the way.

[102] MISCELLANEOUS

About forty-five years ago-between 1895 and 1900-there came the ,vorst hail storm which this section possibly ~ver erperienced. It was of a local nature, occurring mostly in a strip through Siloam township and the lower part of Mis­ souri, near by. Older citizens tell us that slµgs of ice fell which were as large as large cabbage heads, only irregular in size and shape. A picnic was being held at Phipps Mill just west of Middlebrook that day and many almost incred­ ible stories were told by different citizens about just what happened. Holes as large as a wash basin were torn through good board roofs. Some livestock was killed, and one man related that one stone struck his wagon tongue and broke it like it ,vas a straw. On Fourche Creek, near the Joseph Dal­ ton farm, some eight miles above the state line in Missouri, so much hail fell on the ground and was washed into the stream by the accompanying rainfall that it filled the stream with the ice and the fish were washed out onto the shoals and gravel bars ,vhile numb from the cold. They were picked up in large numbers after the storm subsided. Drifts of ice were still to be seen at noon the next day, although it was in June when this occurred. Tradition tells us that about I 840 all the streams in the country rose higher than ever before. There have been a number of times when we had high water along the larger streams. In May, I 882, after several days of rain, which greatly damaged the uplands, the rivers became very high. The same thing occurred again in 1890. In 1915 came the "~.\.ugust overflow" which many still remember. After a week of almost incessant rain, all creeks and rivers rose to the highest stage ever known, and thousands of acres of fine crops ,vere destroyed and a lot of livestock was lost. Nlany people along Current and Black River were forced to leave home, and general destruction ,vas in evidence. In February, March and April, 1927, there was a series of overflows which did much damage, although not as much as the one in 1915, on account of the time of year. This year is remembered as a

[103] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY very wet one. Many farmers in the lowlands had no crop in sight June 1. The coldest weather which we have record was about the ,vinter 1899. A big sleet, which stayed on the ground ab(?Ut forty-five days, fell during the months of January and Fe:t>­ ru~ry, 1901. The deepest snow that has fallen in this section since its settlement was in the winter of 1886. It is said to have been three feet deep on the level. The winter of 1916-17 is remembered as being the coldest and having the deepest snowfall of recent years. The snow began falling December 7, 1915, and was still on the ground to some extent the latter part of February.

TIMBER WORK AND SAWMILLING An industry which flourished during the early days of settlement, after the first roads were built and steam power came into general use, was the cutting and sawmilling of the millions of feet of lumber. Our virgin forests were not to be excelled in the South. Some of the finest white oak trees in the United States grew in Randolph County. Sad to relate, much of this fine timber was wasted because of the cheapness and through necessity in the clearing of the fields. The first mills cut only the lumber which was needed locally as there was no market within reach of this section. After the coming of the railroads the story changed. Outside .interests came here and bought large tracts of timber and cut the ti~ber into stave. and heading stocks, railroad ties, and later into furniture material. Before the railroads, much timber ·was "rafted" down the streams. This became quite an industry on the larger streams from about 1890 to l 910. Success (in Clay County) , Biggers, Pocahontas (in Randolph C.Ounty) , and Black :Rock (in Lawrence County) became known as important mill towns during this pericxl. Other smaller towns sprung up like mush­ rooms during this period, only to die when the virgin timber

[1041 1\flSCELLANEOUS supply ra..Tl out. Keller, Poluca and Running La..1<.e7 in the lo,v­ lands between Pocahontas and Biggers, ,vere towns of this kind. Timber cutting, hauling and sawmilling ,vas hard, dan­ gerous work. The hauling was often done ,vith oxen. Some­ times when the timber ,vas close to the mill, instead of using ,vagons, "lizards" ,vere used to drag the logs in. These lizards were forked pieces of timber upon ,vhich the end of the log ,vas tied and the timber ,vas "skidded" in. This was true principally of the bottom country ,vhere the ground was usually damp and "slick." The early steam boilers had their weakness and imper£ections. Sometimes they "blew up" and scalded the workers. Among the pulleys, carriages and lines of the unprotected machinery danger lurked. But the timber industry had its lighter side. Lumber camps were established, usually in the bottom country, and a number of men ,vould live here several months and ,vork out the surrounding tim­ ber. Old-time dances, shooting matches and other pioneer sports ,vere indulged in. This sort of life ,vas carried on for many years along the lowlands adjacent to our larger rivers. Many families gre,v up in this ,vork. The S,vitzer family is especially remembered as being "timbermen" along the ,vest side of Black and Current River, from Pocahontas to Do,v­ ney's Ferry, during the first years of the present century. But this era has passed. \Vhat timber ·work that is in operation at this time is 1nade up mostly of small sa,vmills ,vhich cut small timber and sa:w it into railroad ties or small dimension lumber. This is hauled to market by the many trucks ,vhich are owned locally, and the bolt-cutter who hauls his short length timber to the local handle mill to be manufactured into various kinds of handles.

ORIGIN OF NA.i"\IES OF PLACES \Vhile possibly not historically important, the origin of names is an interesting study, especially when it applies to towns, communities, etc. We have a number of interesting

[105] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY names in Randolph County. The name Pocahontas, for instance, already explained in the chapter devoted to the his­ tory of the town and also in the Fourche de Thomas article. Supply is named thus because the early storekeeper who secured a postoffice wanted the public to knolv that he always had a "supply' of merchandise. There are several communities in the nation of this name. Ingram, located in the central part of the county, was named first for the h:.te G. H. (Dock) Ingram when the name applied at ,vhat is now the Price farm on Mud creek. The Ingram of today is located around five miles from the original place so named. The places called Ingram have had various other names, such as "Henpeck" and "Gooberhull." Just wehere these names originated is not known. School District No. 52 (now known as Oak Hill) , west of Elevenpoint River, was formerly known as "Hot Corner," and the rural community in the southwest corner of Warm Springs township used to be known as "\Varm Corner." The original school house in District No. 2 ,vas located on a level section of land, yet it was named "High Point." It was in this old building that the author learned from McGuffey's that "The Cat sat on the Mat." Many places in the county are named for the family which established the settlement or ,vere local residents. The village of Birdell ,vas named by Joseph Hufstedler for two of his daughters, Birdie and Ella. The postoffice at Noland was named for a young lady, Nova Pyland, who lived in the community at the time the office was named. The original postoffice at what is no,v Elevenpoint was called "Lima." This is interesting from the fact that Daniel W. Mcilroy was the postmaster at that office before he became postmaster at "Peru" in Cherokee Bay in 1883. Mr. Mcllroy evidently liked South American names. Just why these offices were thus named is not known. Cedars have been remembered in the naming of many places in the county. School Districts Nos. 26 and 81 are both named "Cedar Grove."' One is on the road between Pocahontas and Maynard and the other is on Janes creek above Ravenden Springs. Cedar Ridge School District is located on the west-

[1061 MISCELLANEOUS ern side of Oid Davidsonviiie, and Cedar Bluff schl is on Janes creek in Union township. Several names are of bibijcal origin. Some of them are Palestine School, Siloam Church; there is also a Palestine Church, Antioch Church, Mount Pisgah· Church, Shiloh Church. There are two New Home churc~es and two New Hope schools in the county; also two Ring Schools. There used to be a Macedonia School jwt west of Warm Springs. Water comes in for its part in the naming of places in the county. We have Warm Springs, Ravenden Springs, Bluff Springs, Spring Hill, Running Lake, Water Valley, to say nothing of all the "creeks." Hills come in for a few names also, such as Allen Hill, Spring Hill, Oak Hill, Union Hill, High Point, Clearview, Fairview, Pleasant Hill, Cedar Ridge, Bald Knob, and Mount Pisgah. Several communities and towns in Randolph County are named for early families. Among these are Maynard, Dalton, Biggers, Reyno (Ids) , Pitman, Hamil, Mock, Ingram, Ring, Foster, Debow, Shannon, Holmes, Sharum, Fender and Les­ terville. Poynor and Burr (ow) , Missouri, just over the state line, are 90th named for Randolph County families.

ONE HUNDRED YEAR CLUB The following named families, and possibly others, have resided in the county over a century: Johnston, Bigger, Mock, Shaver, Dalton, Dunn, Hufstedler, Perrin, Sparkman, Mcll­ roy, Stubblefield, Davis, Sloan, White, King, Murphy, Moore, Jarrett, Foster, Lindsey, Ingram, Pitman, Duff, Cockrum, Mansker, Rapert, Carter, Lewis, Reeves, Morris, Wiley, Dean, Crabtree, Miller, Cox, Eldridge, Looney, Black, Janes, James, Martin, McNabb, Nettles, O'Neal, Hudson, Holt, Bailey, Phillips, Spikes, McCarroll, Campbell, Haas, Carroll, Van­ dergriff.

LAWBREAKERS Every community suffers some from the activities of the law-breakers. Randolph County is no exception to this rule.

[107] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

\Vhile we beiieve that this county has been as free from "gangs" or organized criminals as any county in the state, yet we have had our share of individual bad men. There have been a number of murders in the county. Some have been caught and punished for the killings, but from one cause or another some have never paid for their crimes. The first murder of which we have a record is that of Mrs. Polly Hill­ house ·who was slain by a slave. The slave was hanged at Old Jackson in 1831, the year after the murder. Four or five men have been executed in the county, and one or two have been subjected to the supreme penalty else,vhere for crimes com­ mitted in this county. One case of lynching was performed in the county, in Pocahontas. The victim was hanged on the old steel bridge, still standing on the west side of the concrete highway culvert on High,vay 67 between the old court square and the Black River bridge. No sheriff or deputy has ever lost his life in the performance of his duty. So far as we can learn the county has had only one bank -robbery in daylight (at Maynard in 1917). The robber was never apprehended. The bank at Reyno was burglarized about 1926, but was unsuccessful. The burglar was dis­ covered, and as he came out of the building was ordered to ha_lt, but instead dropped his loot and ran away. He ,vas never captured. There have been a number of postoffice burglarizing cases. So far as ,ve can learn there has never been a mail or train robbery.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRES The county has experienced a number of disastrous fires. Pocahontas has had a number ,vhich destroyed a large section of the city. The last big fire was about 1914, when the entire block from what is now the bank comer to Johnston's drug store comer ,vas burned out. Ho,vever, the city has a number of buildings standing in it today ,vhich date around seventy to eighty years old. Warm Springs suffered a blow when the forty-room hotel was destroyed at the springs there about

[108] MISCELLANEOUS fifty-five years ago. Reyno has had a number of destructive fires for a town of its size. During the period from 19~4. to 1930 the greater portion of the business section and about fifteen residences were destroyed by fire.

EPIDEMICS Randolph County has been spared the blight of any epidemic since the days when Old Davidsonville is supposed to have been practically wiped out by yellow fever, except for the influenza epidemic during the winter of 1918-19 when a large number of citizens of the county died of this disease, soon after the close of the first World War.

DROUTHS AND DEPRESSIONS Randolph County has experienced several severe drouths during the past century. The one we hear most about from the oldest citizens is the year 1881. In that year practically nothing was grown on the farms. 0 Ider ci tizezns tell of the hardships endured by the people as a result of this crop fail­ ure. In 190 l the county went through another extreme dry year. There was scarcely any rain from April until Septem­ ber, and the hill land was a total failure. The only crops grown were in the low bottoms along the larger streams, and this was short. The years of 1930 and 1934 were very dry. Hot winds ble,v which seared the growing crops, even where they were on soil that contained moisture. 1930 is especially remembered since the country was already in the grip of a nation-wide economic depression. This made conditions very bad for all. The farmer failed to _produce crops to sustain and support him and the laborer ,vas out of work. Much hardships was endured. The condition ,vas so severe that it appeared that outside help must come in the way of govern­ mental assistance. This did come. It cannot be denied that this was neces.53.ry in many cases, but it started a practice which has been held to be entirely too much since that time. Many folks who were self-supporting before this period seem

[109] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY to have "lost their g1ip," as the pioneer used to say, and have formed the habit of looking to the government many times when they could help themselves. At any rate, the drouths were the "straw which broke the camel's back" and the nation sank into a depression which lasted until the second World War came along to lift it out. There appears, to the writer, to be somepting radically wrong with our economic set-up when it becomes a fact that the only thing that will (or has) brought our country out of economic stagnation is a bloody war which takes the lives of many of our noble sons. We hope, for the sake of future generations, that it will be a long, long time before we have another destructive drouth, a serious depression or a bloody war. They are within themselves a terrible blight upon the wellbeing of the human family, to say nothing of the after­ math which does nothing towards the upbuilding of the people. This is especially true of war.

INTERESTING ITEMS FROM HERE AND THERE In doing any historical research work we find many inter­ esting items which do not belong in any certain chapter, but are a vital part of the story of any country. This is true of Randolph County history. In this article the writer will include such, beginning with the following: Governor Archibald Yell married Maria Ficklin at Pocahontas, July 7, 1836. Stephen F. Austin, known as the "Father of Texas" and Alamo fame, was appointed by Territorial Governor Miller to the office of judge of the first territorial court which was held July 15, 1820. On the land records, dated Septem­ ber 24, 1818, Richard Woods sold to Joseph Janes a pre­ emption claim on Janes creek "located west of Lot Davis.''­ Stephen- F. Austin was a witn~ to the transaction. Austin powbly resided in Randolph County at this time. January 9, 1820, Daniel Ashabranner sold i claim on Glaze Kenon creek to Bernard Rogan. Rogan and Daniel

[110] MISCELLANEOUS

Cheek were the men who iaid out the town of Currenton in 1820. Ashabranner is listed as being the operator of a. lc;ad mine in Madison County, Missouri, during the period around 1925-30. George Mansker made a will December 21, 1822, at Greenville, Mo., and James S. Conway, later Governor of Arkansas, was a witness to his signature. There was not much formality in the first records of the county. The story is well known of the rivalry between old Columbia and Pocahontas over the location of the Randolph county seat in 1835. But the same was true of Davidsonville and this community, although it was known as Fourche de Thomas at that time, when the first county seat of old Law­ rence County was established in 1815. The records show that Basil Boran of the Fourche de Thomas community was accused by Lewis De Munn and others of stating that De Munn and the other members of the courthouse commissioners had double-crossed the citizens of the north part of the coun~y when they decided in favor of Davidsonville. On the date of May 31, 1816, Boran appeared in court and signed a "lie bill," or retraction, to the effect that he knew nothing dishonorable of De Munn and the others and that the charge that he had said these things was untrue. In another entry a certain man and woman were married and the next record entry is a statement by the man that he was the legitimate father of the woman's five children, and that in the future they were to bear his name. In one of the first land record entries is that of a grant made by the United States to a soldier of the War of 1812, but the record left off the range in the description and it is impo~ble to locate it today. Other interesting stories of happenings in the county during the early days are found in the marriage records. In

[1111 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY one instance John Brown applied for a iicense to marry Mary Jones. (This is not their real names. They have descendants in the county at the present time.) T,vo days later she mar­ ried Bill Smith. On the records, t,vo days later, is written: "Miss Jones sacked John Brown and married Bill Smith." In another instance there is recorded this statement in the space for parental consent if needed: "Mr. County Clerk, please let Bill \Vhite have license to marry my daughter by my say so," signed John Doe. In the marriage records during the time the late Jos. T. Robinson ,vas county clerk, in recording one marriage Mr. Robinson wrote in "Silver and gold I have none, but this couple have my best wishes.'' . In organizing the first Territorial Legislatur~ in Arkansas at Arkansas Post, February 7, 1820, Edward McDonald, who resided in what is now Little Black township, Randolph County, was elected president of the body. Richard Searvy was elected secretary and Joseph Hardin, speaker. Hardin and Searcy both lived at Davidsonville. This is quite an honor for Randolph County, although this was known as the "delegation from Lawrence County." These men-all three­ lived in ,vhat is now Randolph County. William Stephenson of Hempstead County ,vas first elected speaker but after serving one day resigned. The story goes that after looking the "rough and ready., assembly of frontiersmen over, he stated that "I had rather shoot then be shot at,0 presuming that if trouble arose in the session shooting would probably be done first and questions asked aftenvards. \Vhen Harden took his place he remarked that he had been shot at by the British in 1778 and was not afraid of any of the members and "their small arms." Mrs. Sallie Pickett, a former resident of Pocahontas who ,vas a granddaughter of Col. John Miller (the father of Gov. William R. Miller), tells of an incident which happened while Colonel Miller ran a store at Davidsonville. A fellow

(112] i\flSCELLANEOUS

,vho lived in that vicinity came to ~filler's store one day to buy a barrel of liquor. In a few days he was back: ¥ter another barrel. Colonel Miller questioned the man about using so much liquor in such a short time, thereupon the fellow drawled, "Wall, I don't know as that is so bad bein's there is ten of us in family and we ain't got no cow." Court was often held out in the open in the summer time. The story goes that often the witness was "stolen" from court to keep him from appearing and that sometimes court was adjourned so that the members could go off on a bear chase that had developed suddenly.

,vHERE OUR PEOPLE CAl\fE FROl\if

lt is interesting to observe the ancestry of the folks who make P.J? the present population of Randolph County. We are prone to think of them as being of English descent, except the families who are descended from the European immigrants who settled in Pocahontas and at Engleberg in 1880 and the years follo,ving. This is not altogether true. Our first settlers came principally from the older states of the east or from the sons and daughters of the early settlers who pushed across the Appalachians with Sevier, Harrod and Daniel Boone. This does not mean that they ,vere English. The Plott family which settled on Fourche was of Pennsylvania German stock. Lelvis De Munn, ,vho was the first clerk of old Law­ rence County, was of· a French family ,vho fled from the mother country during the French Revolution. The same is true of the Garrett family which ,vas related to the Stubble­ fields and other settlers on Elevenpoint. David Black, who settled at Black's Ferry in 1815, was a grandson of a native of Amsterdam, Holland, of the same name. Dr. J.C. Esselman, who was the grandfather of Mrs. Kate Skinner and Mrs. M. M. Carter of Pocahontas~ was a native of Scotland and .served

[1.13] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY through the Revolution as a captain in the Bri~sh army. Isaac Hurst, the father of Mrs. Lena Black, also of Pocahontas, was a native of Greece. The Simington and Hollowell fami­ lies are of Scotch ancestry. The Hufstedler family is descended from a German family which came to America about 1775. 'The Knotts family is Welsh. The paternal family of this writer is Irish, and the mater­ nal ancestors were Pennsylvania "Dutchmen." The large group of citizens of the county which are gen­ erally thought of as being Germans are not all of that nation­ ality. During the period from 1870 to 1900, or later, we received many good citizens who left the older countries of continental Europe due to political and social dissatisfaction. In this group are Bavarians, Prussians, Austrians, Dutch, French and a few Irish, all generally referred to as either German or Dutchmen. There are very few true English peo­ ple in this section. _ The colored population of Randolph County is not over one hundred and fifty at present, and practically all of these are native descendants of native slaves. This can be proven by most of the family names. Some of these names are as follows: Taylor, Mansker, Duckworth, McCarroII, Oakes, James, Pitman, White, Johnson, etc. There are no Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Spanish or Greeks in the county. We have some loqtl natives who have Indian blood in their veins, but we do not have anyone who would actually rate as a Redman in the county.

WHO LIVES IN RANDOLPH COUN'IY?

The question of "Who lives in Randolph County?" brings to mind a lot of things. We hear of some communities which are peopled with "foreigners." Just what implication this word means varies in different communities. It is a fact that

[1141 MISCELLANEOUS all of us are descended from foreigners. When our fore­ fathers landed in America we were not natives of this. land.. But, generally, the ,vord means "fresh from some place else," as the little boy once said. The early settlers of Randolph County came mostly from the older states of the North and East. Some of the best blood that has ever lived .in this county, however, came almost directly from some of the countries of Europe. But, as is true of most early settled sections, we had a number of families which came early and down through the years have occupied a position somewhat like the "First Families of Virginia." They had a feeling that since they were here first that they had a "priority" (to use a word which has come into general use of late) on things. We all re member the time when one of the qualifications for being a choice candidate for public office was that of being born in a log cabin. We all appreciate these conditions and senti­ ment to some extent. The fact was, as one early settler once stated it, the early comers resented to some extent the intru­ sion of the ones who came in later. This early settler said, "\Ve ain't aimin' to let these upstarts come in and take over our churches and politics after our daddies and granddaddies started them and done the dirty, hard part." This condition was true of all pione~r communities. It has faded away during the years, going the way of other sec­ tional differences. \Ve can remember when the man from the lowlands was a "foreigner" to the inhabitant of the hills and vice versa. The author grew up in the hills of western Siloam township, in the north central part of Randolph County. We remem­ ber when the greatest insult that could be hurled our way was being called a "hillbilly" by a resident of Cherokee Bay or Black River bottoms. We retaliated_ by_ calling them "swamp angels" and "sandlappers." Stories were circulated in the years past and gone by one faction at the expense of

[1151 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY the other. Some of these stories ·w·ere told by the man in the lo,vlands to the effect that in the back,voods hills there existed a long, lean, hungry class of hillbillies ,vho never "heard a train ,vhistle," didn't kno,v one letter from another, and ,vho went barefooted nine months out of the year, but ,vho could knock a squirrel out of the top of the highest tree "at one throw." \Vhen the hillmen heard these stories they would picture the resident of the bottoms as being "a poor mosquito-bitten, yellow-faced, pot-bellied, malaria-infected sap ,vho didn't know how a well man felt." Adding such explanations of the conditions in the lowlands as "drinking frog soup all summer and Welding mud knee deep all winter." \Vhile the lo,vlanders bragged of the tall corn, big pump­ kins and bale-to-the-acre cotton which they grew, the hillmen said it ,vas left to them to gather the crop for them. This statement ,vas made from the fact that each fall many fami­ lies from the hills would move over into the bottoms and spend the autumn season picking cotton. This was, at that time, the chief source of cash for many hill families. The hillfolk brought back stories of how the bottoms people "lived out of a paper poke" while making the big cotton crops, and how ·when fall came the credit merchant "got all they made." There was a much 1nore "live at home" program in effect in the hills than in the bottoms. The radical resident of the lo,vlands who said that the hills "looked like starvation" to him ,vas met ,vith the state­ ment that "Hot or cold, ,vet or dry, you ahvays found plenty to eat on the table any time you stopped for a meal in the hills." \Vith the story of ho,v many dollars a good cotton crop ,vould bring the gro,ver came the rebuttal, "\Ve may not have as much money as you do sometimes, but we stay out of debt." So on ·and on the story goes. With the coming of better roads and auto transportation both sections "came closer together." Each Saturday now the folks from O'Kean and

[1.16] A11SCELLA1.VEOUS

1\,f • d • 1 • 1 1 r 11 r -rT • 1nanson mix an 1 n1ing1e ,v1tn tne ro1Ks rron1 union town- ship, Little Black and Reyno in the large cro,vd ,v~ic_h is ahvays in to,vn (Pocahontas) on that day. This has brought about a better understanding between the different com­ munities, especially the hills and bottoms. Another thing ,vhich has had a strong influence on this difference has been the migration from the hills to the bottoms. The first settle1nenL~ ,vere in the hills, and for many years before the lo,vlands ,vere cleared and drained and while the hill land ,vas fresh, people had little desire to move into the bottom sections. \Vith the time arriving that a lot of the hill land had become ,vorn out (before the days of rotation, diversification and other soil conservation practices) , the overflo,v of population naturally looked to the fertile bottom land for homes. The result was the first settlers of this sec­ tion soon found themselves surrounded by people from the hills. And in the future, if the hillsmen talked about the "sandlapper," he ·was likely talking about his brother or sister, and after a fe,v years of fusion of the t,vo "kinds" of people in the bottoms there ceased to be much talking about the "'hillbilly" because he was somebody's uncle or grand­ father "back home." This is the story of the disappearance of the "hillbilly and sandlapper."

[l I 71 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

"CARRY ME BACK TO OLD VIRGINIA"

We who live today will never know the loneliness and homesickness which our foreparents felt at times. Moving to a new· land, far away from the land of their fathers, carried with it a certain amount of sorro,v and regret. After landing in the new community, if things went well, attrac­ tions for and memories of the mother country or childhood Q(?me fadecJ gradually; but if hardships and privations appeared, which was often the case, a longing for the old home left behind was a natural attraction. · · The author of "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," "West Virginia Hills," "On the Banks of the Wabash," "Old Ken­ tucky Home" and many other songs written during the period of early settlement expresses the feelings of those whose old home was "far, far away." \Ve who have lived far back enough to have known some of the original settlers who came here from the older states of the East know about this attraction for the old home which remained with these immigrants, some of whom were our grandparents, throughout their lives. While they lived their lives in their new homes, many of these early-comers remained loyal to the land of their birth; and although they loved their adopted state, nothing here 1vas ever quite as good as it was "back in Old Kaintuck." In their estimation a native of Old Virginia or Kentucky, or some other state from which they came, was just a little superior to other folks. There was just a little more "blue blood" in their veins than po~ by other people. As one ,mter has said, "The com grew: a little taller, the~ was a little greener and the maidens a lot prettier back home.'' The story goes that a few years ago a citizen of a certain community in Randolph County, a natural comic and not too bright mentally, tiring of hearing a certain old fellow of the

[118] MISCELLANEOUS neighborhood bragging about his old home state of Ken­ tucky, asked the old fellow if there were actually a lot of good folks in that state. ·"Oh, yes, sir," replied the old fellow, "best peopl_e in the world." "I thought so," replied the comic, "because none of ~em ever moved anywhere else." .Of course. this was not really true, as many of the finest families of our. county· and state came from Kentucky and the other eastern states. But this fellow's statement explains the feelings of many of the "natives" of this section toward, those ~~o ".broU:g~i: too much of their old home _with the.m." Mother Nature has planted in the souls of we humans that feeling and conviction that a lot of things were "a little bigger and a whole lot better" back during our childhood days. This explains the matter discussed above. There is no water in the world today that "tastes as good" or quenches our thirst like that old spring_ we can remember at grandfather's or Uncle Elijah's or some other place near our old childhood home. We can see it today-the water boiling up from under a limestone rock and flowing down through the spring lot ·over a clean, gravelly bottom with peppermint growing along both sides of the water. No one in the world can bake bis­ cuits "like mother used to bake," and Uncle Dan Bates, only yesterday, was telling us that the "best bread in the world,. ,vas the "salt-rising" variety which mothers used to make '-'back i!} the good old· days." · Rivers looked larger, trees were bigger, the "bottom fieldn looked a lot larger and the com ·rows a lot longer, especially when we looked down them over the back of old Jack ,vhile we walked along between the handles of a one­ horse double shovel. (Evidently they would have looked a lot shorter from the seat of a tractor.) All this rambling along the subject· of homesickn~, the memories of youth, etc., may not belong in a county history, but the ,vord "history'' itself is truly just "his history," and

[119] HISTORY OF- RANDOLPH COUNTY at last only a story of life. Life is generally thought of as the activities and the peculiar plan of things which Nature created to work in conjunction with that elusive product called "time." And actually history is· the recordings of events performed by individuals at certain· places, at certain times. All this sounds vague and very abstract, but is a part of the grain or chaff of this book. But, at last, this subject is bound up in the thought ,vhich some l\'Titer expressed in printed words ,vhen he said: "Memory, like the ivy, clings To olden times, and ways, and things."

"OLD TIME RELIGION"

Thousands of pages have been written to record the deeds of those ,vho have been politically prominent in the past. Tons of paper has been used to tell about the activities of military men and record the story of bloody battles. Sc~res of books have been written to acquaint the reader with the struggles and hardships of the hardy pioneer who pushed into the virgin forests to he,v out a home for himself and family. All this is a part of the huge task of recording history. In fact it has been the major part of practically all histories ,vhich have been ,vritten. But there is a class of men who played a leading part in the great drama of pioneer history of Randolph County and the nation who have not been given the space and credit ,vhich they deserve. These men are the pioneer preachers. Quite a lot has been said about the early "circuit riders." They ,vere the preachers ,vho travelled around over the land, going from one isolated community to another at regular intervals to preach to the congregations ,vhich as.5embled on these dates. The crowd ,vas made up of the families of the

[120] ..\fISCELLANEOUS adjacent "neighborhood" ,vhich ,vas often ten miles across. Eli Lindsey, ·pioneer l\1lethodist preacher ,vho lived in this section around 1815, was possibly the best known of th-e t:ir­ cuit rider ·class. There ,vere others ,vho belonged in this class, among ,vhich ,vas John Young Lindsey, a nephew of Eli, who was an early Baptist preacher ,vho is reputed to have been one of the organizers of old Salem church at .Jar­ rett schoolhouse, Randolph County, which ,vas the first Bap­ tist church in the state. One of the first preachers of the Church of Christ was Samuel McCullah who, according to the records, applied to the elders of his church "at the home of Brother B. States on Fourche de Mas," December 4, 1942, for "·w-ritten credentials to preach the gospel of the Lord as an evangelist wherever God and his Providence did cast my lot." The credentials ,vere signed by Eld. \Villiam Kellett. Henry Slavens, who was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention in Little Rock from Randolph County, January 4, 1836, ,vas ordained to preach at "Cherokee Bay Baptist Church of Christ" December 4, 1836. Sherrod \Vinningha1u and Henry McElmurry were listed as elders. Prior to this, June 7, 1834, \Vinningham ,vas ordained to preach by \Vil­ liam ~Iacon and Henry McElmurry as elders. During the period from 1815 to 1835 tlvo Catholic n1is­ sionaries, John Odin and John Timon, did n1issionary ,,·ork an1ong the Indians and early settlers around Davidsonvillc and Jackson. These were the first preachers, so far as ,ve know·, ,vho came to this section to spread the Gospel in the pioneer settlements. There is in existence a long list of preachers ,vho appeared during the period from 1835 to the period of the Civil \Var. Some of these are referred to even unto this day. Space forbids the naming of many of these old and early men of God. l\[any ,vho lived and labored and ,vent to their graves .. unhonored and unsung" were really greater man in the sight of their ~laker than those ,ve hear a lot about.

[1211 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Below we ,vill list a fe,,v of the names of preachers l 4Jhose names appear on the early records prior to 1860. Among these were John Hovenaugh, Green Moore, Daniel Rose, William Taylor, Joshua Bumpass, Samuel Hutchinson, Mor­ decai Haliburton, Gideon Shockley, Elisha Landers, James Ferrill, James Garrett, Reuben Black, Jess Burro,v, Theo­ polius Garrett, Abner GatTison and Peter \Vatson. The above is only a partial list of the early preachers before 1860. The follo,ving list is made up of some ·who really belonged in the list above, together with some who labored in the vineyard of the Lord until recently. The second list is as f ollo,vs: David Sharp, Parson James, M. D. Bowers, Martin Hogan, Peter Shaver, John Yarbrough, John Rush, David Presley, W. S. Southworth, Demps King, William Shaver, Larkin Johnston, Jessie Roach, W. A. Downing, '\V. A. Goodwin, Arthur Conner, Zera Allen, Isaac '\Vitt, Jesse Rob­ inson, D. M. Robinson, J. F. Armstrong, R. F. Carroll, J. R. Pratt, J. A. Lemll!ons, Eld. Hollo,vell, \V. T. Shoffit, Father ()'Kean, Alec Fo,vler, E. T. Lincoln, and a lot of others ,vhich should be listed here ,vho are not remen1bered at this tin1e . .A. third list which brings us do,vn to the present, although only the ones of long service in Randolph County are listed~ is as follow·s: S. L. Johnston, ..t\. B. Shaver, Kno,v Bele,v, J. \Vill Henley, J. A. Spence, J ..A .. i-\llison, \V. \V. Bailey, 0. H. L. Cunningham, Craven \Vilson, Bynum Black, F. C. Neely, Amos Lemmons, John H. Harper. Only a fe,v of the first ones named at the beginning of this chapter ,vere really "circuit riders.H l\fost of them ,vere men who lived at a certain to,vn or community and preached at various places as they ,vere called, or ,vent on their own acco~·d, to build up the various congregations of their affil- 1auons.

[122] 1.\IISCELLA1VEOUS

There is no other profession that has done more good for less pay than the pioneer preacher. He has repeated th~ s_tory of John of old a thousand times by going out and "preparing a way for others to fol]o-iv." In most pioneer frontier communities he ,-vas the next man to come into the settlement after the settler arrived with his family. He often served as both preacher and school teacher. lVIany times he ,vent out and ,vith his o,vn hands bui]t the first church building, a rough log cabin, but here he proclaimed to all the ,vorld that there ,vas a Divine Being '"from whom all blessings flow," and who in return for these blessings expected mortal man to love and respect him and to live lives according to the rules laid do,vn in his book. The old-time protracted meeting, ,vhich has been men­ tioned before, was a valuable institution of the early settle­ ments. It not only provided a place for the folks to enjoy themselves socially, it builded up the 1norals of the settler and instilled in him the precepts of the Golden Rule. This protracted n1eeting could never have happened if there had not been a self-sacrificing preacher "at the head of things." He often labored for ·weeks at a tin1e ,vith the con­ gregation, and in return received only ,vhatever pay the folks felt disposed to pay hin1. The pay ,vas usually not enough to provide a living for his family and he had to ,rork in the field or shop throug-hout the w·eek to '"splice out" his 111inis­ terial salary to the point ,vhere it provided the necessary food and shelter for his family. ~[any have been the instances ,vhere the early preacher has ,valked or ridden horseback many miles to preach "over Saturday night and Sunday" and was not paid one cent, or possibly given a fe,v old clothing for his family or a piece of home-cured bacon or a "poke of meal." To n1any of ,ve ,vho live today ,vho are used to seeing a lot of our preachers set their o,vn price ,vhich, if they are not paid this, will not ,vork for us, cannot fully appreciate the conditions under

[123] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

·which the early preacher labored. But, in fairness to a!!, ,ve kno,v that there are possibly very great extremes in both cases. Isaac \Vitt, one of the pioneer Baptist preachers of central Randolph County, ,vhose family lvas related to the writer's father, used to work all ,veek in the fields with his children and on Sunday put on his starched, studded front shirt and homespun suit and start out over a road, sometimes several miles Jong, to preach twice that day and return home that night. The trip ,vas usually made in an old-time one-horse buggy which ,vas pulled by one of his ponies ,vhich had been hitched to a plo·w all ,veek. Stuffed snugly in behind the seat ,vas a few ears of corn or a sheaf of oats, because Parson Isaac never kne,v for sure that he would be invited home by some brother ,vho had "hoss feed." 1\if onday morning ,vould find him again at the handles of the plo,v. This story ,vas true of many other such early preachers. But Parson \Vitt, like a lot more of these grand old men of God, made his mark. The Baptist church at ~Iaynard is today kno1vn as \Vitt' s Chapel, in his honor. The story goes that Rev. L. F. Johnston, one of the early l\Iethodist preachers of the county, ,vottld ,valk for 1niles to preach to the settlers around Siloan1, Old l\fount Pisgah and other early conununities. He reared a large family and accun1ulated son1e property ,vhile doing so. Ben Johnston, now· living in Pocahontas, ,vho is the grandson of the above­ na1ned pioneer n1inister, once stated to this ,vriter that his grandfather on his n1otherl> s side of the family built a church­ house for his grandfather on his father's side to preach in. This is true since the old Mount Pisgah church ,vhich ,vas located just ,vest of the present Ingram postoffice ,vas built largely through the efforts of ,villiam Spikes several years before the Civil \Var. \Villiam Spikes ,vas the father of the late l\fartha Spikes Johnston, mother of Ben Johnston.

Eld. Joe H. Blue, veteran minister of the Church of Christ, once told the ,v-riter that he preached a ,vhole year

[124] l\!ISCELLANEOUS once for less than fifty dollars. During this year he states that he 1nade long ·trips through sno,v and rain and conducted many funeral services, ,vedding ceremonies, etc., besides preaching at several different churches. Many other old preachers devoted long years of service in the task of spreading Christian influence in a ne,v land. Such men as Uncle Peter Shaver, David Sharp, S. L. Johnston, J. Will Henley, David Presley, Arthur Conner, \Villiam Shaver, Demps King, J. F. Armstrong, J. Amos Lemmons and countless others whom we would like to name here left their footprints on the sands of time. The amount of good they did can never be measured. \Vhile their ,vork here pos­ sibly ,vas never appreciated enough, evidently "a cro·wn is ]aid up in Heaven" for them. The families of these men are not to be forgotten, especially the wife and mother. It ,vas she ,vho stayed behind and "kept the home fires burning" while her husband ,vent forth to work for their Master. Her task was not easy. The churche~ of the county were divided principally between the Methodist, Baptist and Church of Christ during the early days although there ,vere several Presbyterians, Catholics and scattered groups of Church of God or Holiness. Many communities had a "meeting house" ,vhere all sects and beliefs ,vere welcome to come and preach. \Vhile this ,vas true in some communities, the line ,vas usually dra,vn as to "rho the church building belonged to. Of the early rural cotnmunities usually one belief predominated pretty strongly until modem days. With better roads, improved means of travel and outside influence, some of the communities ,vhich were once practically "one hundred per cenf' strong in one church are no,v greatly mixed. One belief during the early days Uran through the family"' in many cases.. This is an exception today.

[125] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUNTY

THE OLD-Til\lE COUNTRY STORE

Possibly this article does not belong in a book ,vhich is supposed to be devoted to the task of recording the happen­ ings of historical importance of our people, but since time and space has been given to other institutions we feel that the old-time country store, ·with the proverbial "pot-bellied stove and open cracker barrel," should be given some notice. The first store ·which was "opened for business" in this section during the days of early settlement was the "trading post," ]ocated on a larger stream, ·where the boats brought him coffee, calico, spices and several other items which were not obtainable locally. The operator of the trading post exchanged his merchandise for furs ,vhich the hunters brought to him. In some places beeswax, ,vhich had been obtained from robbing bee trees in the forests and "bear grease" ·which ,vas rendered from the flesh of bears killed locally, ·was also used in place of cash in buying their needs. \ 1ery little money ,vas used as a medium of exchange. This first merchant kne,v nothing of the art of display and n1erchandising. The procedure was very simple. He received his ,vares from the boatmen and traded them to the neighbors for their produce, and the boatmen picked up the produce and brought him some more wares. After the establishment of "settlements,_ some enterpris­ ing settler built a log house and announced to the public that he ,vas opening up a store ,vhich ,vould carry in stock "the latest pieces of 1;vearing material and silks from N e,v Orleans:· or maybe it ,vas Pittsburgh. Occasionally some merchandise found its wav into the frontier from Ne,v York. But ·even J ·with this type of merchandise available at times, for many, many years the pioneer mother manufactured the clothing for the familv at home. J The inside of one of these early-day stores presented a varied picture. All kinds of food products which ,ve now

[126] l\llSCELLA;.VEO US buy in packages was sold in bulk from bins. Soda, salt, sul­ phur and many items in the drug line ,vas sold by the ounce or pound. There were no paper bags, so the article 'was wrapped up in paper. The first scales ,vere a far cry from our automatic electric calculating ones. At first "balances" ,vere used. They were made like the picture you sometimes see today in drug advertisements. Everything was placed on one side and the proper size ,veight was placed on the opposite side and the commodity was ",;veighed in the balance." After this came the old scoop and beam ,veight scales. Thousands of items which are very commonplace today were unheard of even until the turn of the last century. Of the dozens of breakfast foods on .the market today, fifty years ago and before there usually was nothing but unpolished rice, and it ,vas not always available. Then came rolled oats. The early store did not have canned foods. There are many folks Jiving today who, when they were children, never sa,v anything canned come from the store unless it happened to be a can of peaches which father bought for a sick member of the family the year following a "peach failure." One of the first dry goods items to come into popular use, which was purchased at the local store, was a coarse, unbleached cotton cloth, generally called "factory," because it had been made at a "factoryH instead of at home. This material ,vas the fore­ runner of our present-day "domestic" and sheetings. This material ,vas ,voven in the mills of New England and came to this section over the long route by ,vater down the Atlantic coast to Ne,v Orleans and up the Mississippi and our smaller streams by steamboat. It was in the latter half of the past century before meat ,vas sold in the stores, except an occa­ sional extra "side of bacon" ,vhich a local prosperous farmer had "to spare" along during the late summer from his smoke­ house, which he wished to dispose of before "hog-killing time,u about November. The first packing house lard ,vhich came to the stores of Randolph County came in "hogsheads" or large ,vooden barrels. It ,vas sold in bulk. The customer brought along his container and bought any amount he

[127] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

,vished. You couln generally tell ,vhether the storekeeper ,vas right- or left-handed by ·which side of his coat ,vas the "'greasiest," ,vhere he had leaned over the edge of the barrel ,vhen he ,vas dipping out the lard. The first shoes to come· to our local stores were the old split-leather type Hbrogans." A.fter becoming wet a few times the leather grew as stiff and hard as sheet metal, and many of our prominent men past middle age today know how it feels to have his ankles chaffed by the top of the old brogans. To make children's shoes last longer, a toekick made of a strip of copper or brass was placed around the toe of the shoe. This addition to the split­ leather product did not add materially to the comfort of the article. Hosiery ,vas made at home, for both men and ·women. i\fany a righteous mother, during the days of forty and fifty years ago, charged that her "modern" daughter-in-la,v ,vas ''too onery to do her duty" ,vhen she ,vent to the store to buy the black-ribbed cotton hose for her children instead of knit­ ting them herself. The nice, smoothly-milled cotton hose available today, which the present-day lady "wouldn't be caught out in the dark with a pair on," would have been a luxury ,vhen grandmother was a girl. One of the most profit­ able departn1ents in the early general store ,vas the drug section. The early "elixirs" ·which ,vere recommended to cure almost every ill ,vhich the human is heir to, found ready sale to the early settler, especially during the days before the country doctors ,vere close enough to call or consi1lt. The many uquack" remedies ,vhich produced unfavorable results, and the passing of tighter drug la,vs to curb them, slo,ved this line do,vn some. ~.\. popular type of early-day store ,vas the "furnishing store." \Ve think of such a store today as being a large busi­ ness ,vhich deals ·with heavy merchandise, especially furni­ ture. This ,vas not true of the early store of this description. It ,vas a store ,vhich extended "gin whistling" terms, or spring to fall credit to farmers mostly, ,vho in turn gave the merchant a mortgage on "about everything except the old

[128] l\IISCELLANEOUS lady and the kids," as one fellow· stated it. About l\Iarch the first the papers ,vere fixed up for a certain amount, due about October the first. This kind of credit lvas expensive on the customer. Prices, through necessity, ,vere high. A part of this increase in price ,vas due to the fact that the merchant had his capital tied up in mortgages for t,vo-thirds of the year. And, of course, there ,vere some credit losses due to short crops, etc.; but since ~he man obtaining the credit ,vas bound to the merchant, he ,vas more or less at the mercy of said merchant, and if the latter desired to place too high a profit on the merchandise, there was little the cus­ tomer could do about it. This was often true, but, strange to say, many people ,vould patronize this kind of store year after year, and as a result oftentimes drift into the c1ass ,vho just really ,vorked all the year for ,vhat his credit ,vas ,vorth at the store. Of course this ,vas not ahvays true. Some 1ner­ chants of this kind of store were really and truly benefactors to -the population, especially during the lean years. They "carried" the people over until better times enabled the111 to become self-supporting and pay out also. This type of store flourished during the years before the coming of modern credit agencies which finance the farmer on reasonable rates and moderate terms. This enables him to pay cash and take advantage of competitive prices. The country store, all through the years, has beco1ne an .A.merican institution. Here the citizens gathered before the days of daily mail and radio to discuss the ,veather, the issues of the day, and to trade horses and other activities. Some of these ,vere to pitch horseshoes out under the neighboring trees or play ball or marbles. This was often done ,vhile ,vait­ ing for their "grinding,"' as often the neighborhood grist mill ,vas located near the store. Here ,vas usually held the candi­ date speakings, the elections, and many other forms of com­ munity get-togethers. The modem store is more attractive. It is more sanitary. It is more convenient and complete, but it has lost some-

[129] HISTORY OF RA1.YDOLPH COU1.VTY thing ,vhich is hard to define, ,vhich the old-time crossroads store possessed.

OLD-TL\IE SINGING

There possibly are those ,vho may think that singing is of such unimportance that it has no place in the recordings of the past. \Ve differ with those who believe this. One lead­ ing jurist has said that ,vhen you find a community with a good singing class you found a good community, morally. The pioneer who, after laboring in the fields and forests for six days, received spiritual and physical contentment and relaxation through the singing of songs of praise to his Master on the Sabbath day. Possibly the best kno,vn vocal music teacher the county has produced ,,ras J. E. \Vilson, ·who taught classes in many communities of the county, especially in the vicinity of Pit­ n1an, Supply and l\faynard, during the period from 1880 until about 1905. \Vhen the Old Folks Singing holds it annual convention at l\faynard each year, in September, old Professor '\Vilson is ahvays remembered. Others who ,vere identified ,vith this institution ,vho have passed on are John D. Campbell and L. F. Blankenship. Other early singing teachers of that period ,vere a l\f r. Tracy and a ~fr. Lillard. Lillard ,vas from the vicinity of old \ Vain u t Hill. They both taught schools in different places. The first method of singing ,vas ,vhat ,ve would call the "Read, Repeat and SingH method. The leader would stand before the class and read from the book, which was usually the old "Christian HarmonyH or UClass, Choir and Congre­ gationH book, and the class ,vould repeat the words after him. This ,vas done a verse at a time, and then they ,vould sing the ,vords and music.

[130] 1\JISCELLA1VEOUS

\Ve rlo not have a complete list of those ~vho v:ere song and class leaders during the days before the coming of mod­ ern music and "round notes." Ho,vever, we do know· of some of them. There are others of later dates ,vho really belong in this class, but the follo\.ving are among the leaders who ,vere active during the days when the "old-time singing" was the cu1Tent style used, and some of these are still active today: Callo,vay Pringle, Steadman Johnston, T. R. Roberson, Granville \Vright, Lee Farrow, Mr. Ganno,vay, Albert Tay­ lor, Ozzie Templeton, Jack Cole, Noah Phillips, John R. Holt and others ,ve do not know about. \Vright, Farrow, Pringle, Phillips, Gannoway, Cole and Templeton are deceased. The good done by these pioneers on vocal n1usic is not to be belittled. \Vorking in connection ,vith the early min­ isters and teachers of the county, they did much to build up the moral and educational side of life for those ,vho lived during the days ,vhen our country ,vas in its formative period.

THE KU KLUX KLAN IN RANDOLPH COUNTY

The story of the Ku Klux Klan or "Ku Klux/' as ,ve have heard them called, is a familiar story in this section, even though at this date there are very few· persons ,vho ,vere members or even remember the activities of the original Ku Klux. This ,vas an organization of local citizens, organized and operated in secret, during the days of Reconstruction follo,v­ ing the Civil \Var. It ,vas born of a desire of the local citizens to secure control of their communities from the more or less unscrupulous individuals ,vho had come into the country from the North at the close of the ,var Another plan of the Ku Klux ,vas to act as a check on the colored people ,vho lately having obtained their freedom might become unruly and abusive. Very little evidence of the latter ,vas in evi-

[131] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUi\TTY dence. AcruaHy, the chief activity of the organization turned out to be the ,varning and often punishing of ,vrongdoers in the country, many of which ,vere the lo,v moral and "ne'er do ,vell" type of native citizens. 1£ a local citizen ,vas suspicioned of stealing corn fro1n his neighbor's crib, or had been cruel to his family, or a man or ,voman had been kno,vn to have lived in adultry, etc., they ,vere called upon during the dark hours around midnight or later and given dire warnings. If he stopped the doing of ,vhat he ,vas accused, no other visits ,vere made. If he per­ sisted in the offense, he usually found himself being bound over a convenient log and "horse-whipped." One ,vhipping, ,vhich ,vas administered by some pretty strong-armed citizen, usually was enough. The members of the Klan had certain meeting places and at these meetings, which ,vere held in the dead of the night in some remote section before a huge log fire, the general moral and political condition of the neighborhood ,vas discussed. 1f it was found that some citizen in the community needed "attending to," the group proceeded to his home and per­ formed the task, as described above. They ,vere usually clad in long ,vhite robes ,vhich covered them from head to foot, and often carried lighted torches and other paraphernalia ,vhich was used to bring terror to the heart of the ,vrongdoer. The chief source of the strength of the Ku Klux ,vas the secrecy of who made up the men1bers of the organization. Those who ,vere not members did not kno,v ,vho was Hlooking at them/' as one darky explained. There ,vas a lot of good done during this unsettled period by the Ku Kluxs, but, as is true of many organizations, churches, etc., some of the ,vrong kind of people became me1nbers, and there ,vere cases ,vhere unfortunate incidents occurred ,vhich ,vere committed by undesirable characters and the Ku Klux ,vere given credit for the deed which finally caused it to lose its popularity and prestige.

[132] Af ISCELLANEOUS

SL. .\ \'ERY

The question of slavery ,vas discussed in brief in the chapter about the Civil \Var, but ,ve desire to go into the 1natter further due to the fact that it ,vas a very vital issue and a serious proposition ,vith the first peop1e ,vho came to R.andolph County. There has possib]y been m-ore prejudiced statements been n1ade on the question of slavery than any other subject in our history. The stories of extreme cruelty imposed on the blacks ,vere badly exaggerated. There is no doubt that so1ne o,vners ,vere cruel to their slaves, but the majority ,vere given fair treatment, and many ,vere the tears shed both by master and slave ,vhen either passed a,vay. Some men are mean to their families. Some men are cruel to their 1ivestock, and some army officers were lowdo,vn enough to mistreat the private in the arn1y under the disguise of "army discipline." The same ,vas true of the slaveo,vner. It all depended on ,v hat sort of man he ,vas. \Ve all have heard ho,v many for1ner slaves can1e to the "big house" of their n1aster ,vhen they heard about Lincoln's E1nanicipation Procla1nation and assured the1n of their loyalty. The ,vriter's o,vn paternal grandfather's life ,vas saved during the battle of Prairie

Grove bvJ a faithful black man ,vho carried him out of the thick of the battle after he had been ,vounded. The ,vife ,vhose husband ,vas a,vay at ,var during the sixties n1any times tucked her little ones to bed at night satisfied ,vith the thought that no one could harm her brood so long as old l\fose or Rastus remained in his cabin close by. One ·writer said that a fe,v thousand torches in the hands of the blacks left at home ,vould have ended the ,var in thirty days, to the sorro,v of the South, but not one ,vas lighted. Such ,vas the picture, except in obscure instances, of the loyalty and bond of affection benveen master and slave.

[133] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1.VTY

}\-.,fany interesling stories are handed down to us concern­ ing the colored folks during and after this period. J. B. \Veaver tells a story which came to him from his grandfather. He states that in the years before the war a family lived on the farm now owned and occupied by Robert Vann and family out east of Maynard ,vhich owned some slaves, among ,vhich ,vas a negro ,voman ,vho ,vas extremely fleshy, weighing around seven hundred pounds. The owner decided to sell his slaves and offered the fat woman for sale and had no bidders. She ,vas considered too fat to work. She was again offered for sale and a fellow bought her. He ,vas told that she was useless. He remarked that she had been allowed to sit around and eat and that he had a different remedy, remarking that "she will be able to chop cotton next spring." The story goes that he took her home and put her on a diet of bread and ,vater, and Dinah lost the extra avordupois, her health improved and she did chop cotton the next spring. The colored man has been the victim of much abuse and discrimination in the past. A noted educator has said that if the ,vhite n1an of today, regardless of nationality and creed, had been subject to the things ·which the negro had during the past three hundred years, he doubted if they ,vould no,v present ,vithin their ranks one n1an ,vho ,vas as good a citizen as hundreds of colored people are today. During the political campaign of 1944, when the subject of negroes voting in state prin1aries was a heated issue, a highly respected colored man and lando,vner of Cherokee Bay ,vas discussing the matter ,vith the writer. Among his remarks he stated: "All the meanness ,vhich ,ve colored folks kno,v ,vas taught us by you white folks, as w·e 1vere totally ignorant ·when ,ve ,vere brought O\'er here from Africa." This statement in1pressed me. There is a thought behind this statement. Any,vay, the negro ,vas at one time a very valuable piece of property. He ,vas looked upon in the same light as a horse

[134] l\!ISCELLA1VEOUS or cow·. The plantation o,vner feit that dire caiamity stalked his door any time his slaves were taken from him. Final).cial and social standing was measured according to the number of slaves the planter owned during the first half of the nine­ teenth century. Slave o,vnership was general. Practically every man of means, and especially those who did farming extensively, owned one to twenty slaves of different ages. \Vhen the issue was attacked from a moral standpoint, some few· liberated their negroes. Some who had slaves considered it a "necessary evil," but with most owners little thought was given to this angle. A few folks today, in speaking of their ancestors, are inclined to leave the impression that "my grandfather was not a slaveowner," but we find that most of them ,vere. By checking the early records we find that most of the early preachers ·were slaveholders. In fact, we find recorded ·where Eli Lindsey, ,vho was one of the first "circuit riders" of Arkansas, owned slaves ,vhile residing in Randolph County. On page 383 of the old record book "B" of old La,v­ rence County is recorded a transaction ,vherein Benjamin \Villiams sold to Eli Lindsey "One negro woman named P.enny, one negro boy named Tom, one negro boy nan1ed Frank, and a negro girl nan1ed Mary. 0 This was September 10, 1822. Lindsey aftenvards sold these slaves to John Hinds. Practically all of the civilized ,vorld today is free of slavery. \Ve are all glad that this problem is settled and that the practice has been abolished for all time. Yet during that colorful era, ·when slavery flourished, ,ve find that it was practiced and generally accepted by the peoples of the entire ci\·ilized ,vorld.

[135] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

SOj\,fE OF RANDOLPH COUNTY'S NOTED MEN OF THE PAST

In ·writing a history of the nation, or of a state,, the his­ torian invariably includes a list of the "Ten Greatest Men" of the nation or state, although the number is not always ten. This list is usually secured by referring to the Hall of }'an1e or by a "stra,v vote" from the people. This is not such a hard task ,vhere miles of terra firma spread bet,veen the author and those ,vhose friends and kinsmen ,vere not included. The story is different with the poor historian of a county. Here he is placed "face to face" with all the people and ,vith a list which would put the current "Who's \Vho" or "The Four Hundred" to shame, and with the unpleasant (and possibly unwise) task of attempting to choose a limited number of names from a long list of illustrious citizens of our o,vn native cot~nty. But here goes, "so help me God." The three "first citizens" of the county are like the story of the fello,v ,vho, upon imbibing too freely of the "spirits ,vhich invigorate," ·when asked ,vho the toughest character in to,vn ,vas, replied, "There's just t,vo of the1u and 1'111 both of · e1n .. , JOHN JANES The "first citizen" of Randolph County cannot be desig­ nated. John Janes, ·who, as Shinn's History states, settled on Janes creek in 1809, is given recognizance by that historian as being the first man to locate in the county. Janes ,vas a Revolutionary soldier ,vho ,vas in the battle of Yorkto,m. Soon after the close of the Revolution he came ,vest, stopping at the post of St. Louis for a,vhile and then coming on do,vn into this section. Certain members of the family clain1 as, early as I 805. His place of settlement is said to have been on ,vhat is kno,vn as the Bridges farm, about one mile above the present .J. J. Brooks farm, near a large spring. His son, Jim Janes, father of 1\Irs. Belle Galbraith, now· living in Poca-

[136] 1,IISCELLANEOUS hontas, built ,vhat is probably the olrlest house still standing in the county, in 1840. This old house is just south of Raven­ den Springs. At any rate, John Janes is one of the first titi­ zens of Randolph County. He married l\1ary Black, daughter of David Black, ,vho settled on Eleven point in 1815. The .Janes family intermarried ,vith the \Velis, Black, Galbraith and \\Tayland families early.

MATTHIAS MocK Next on the list of firsts is Matthias l\!Iock, mentioned a number of times elsewhere in this book. He settled on l\1ud creek in 18 I 5, and Reynolds in his history of Arkansas gives him credit as being the county's first settler. Mock married Leah Shaver, a daughter of John Shaver, another early set­ tler on this creek, as his first ,vife, and after her death he 111arried l\·fargaret Mansker, June 24, 1828, a daughter of c;eorge Mansker ·who settled on the creek na1ned for him, just north of the city of Pocahontas, in 1817. l\'locks third ,vife ,vas Amanda Rasberry. Mock w·as the father of a large family, and from these there are legions of descendants scat­ tered over the South and West at the present time. There is ,vithin the county at the present time at least a hundred fa1nilies ,vho trace their ancestry to l\1atthias 1\ilock.

DR. \V ILLIAl\I JARRETr Third on the list of "first" citizens is Dr. \Villiam Jarrett. His descendants say that he came to the community ,vhere the present-day Jarrett schoolhouse is located about 1800. He is reputed to have purchased a land claim from Richard Fletcher in 1801, in this community. Richard Fletcher was the father of John Gould Fletcher ,,·ho lies buried in the old Lindseyville cemetery, and ·who ,vas the father of the first Fletchers in Arkansas. If this claim could be proven, it ,vould establish \Villiam Jarrett as the first kno"·n settler in the county. Fletcher ,vas one of the original settlers at \Vatauga, the first settlement in Tennessee, and it mav be that he J

[1371 HISTORY OF RA1.VDOLPH COUNTY o,vned a claim here before the family came, otherw·ise that family ,vould come in for consideration as the first family of the county. Dr. .J an·ett married Hannah Seavers, ,vho was a daughter of 1\lartin 1\liller. 1\fartin 1\{iller o,vned land in this com­ m unity during the first years after 1800, and in 1821 he made a ,vi11 giving a part of this to 1\{rs. Jarrett. 1\frs. Jarrett first man·ied Gabriel Seavers, a soldier of the \Var of I 812, and ,vho ,vas ,vounded at the battle of N e,v Orleans. Dr. .J a1Tett ,vas a physician, possibly the first one in Ran­ dolph County. He is mentioned in the writings of Engle­ mann, the German scientist ,vho made a trip from St. Louis to Little Rock in 1837. Dr. Jarrett ·was tl1e father of Henry Con,vay Jarrett and other children. Henry Con,vay ,vas the father of Uncle Joe Jarrett who lives on the old homestead at this time, and also other children.

DR. PEYTON R. PITI\IAN Dr. Peyton R. Pitman settled at what is no,v kno,vn as the old Pitman Ferry on Current River about 1811 or 1812. He ,vas a physician and also justice of the peace for many years. \Vhen the county ,vas formed in 1835, he ,vas chosen as the first county judge. For many years his name figured prominently in the affairs of the county. He ,vas at one time postn1aster at the old Fourche de Thomas postoffice, and it is po~ible that he lived at that place even though he o,vned and operated the ferry and his large plantation on Current River. Eras1nus D. Pitman ,vas his son, and a number of people in the county at this time are his descendants. \Vhen Dr. Englen1ann passed do,vn the old Military road in 1837 he states that the doctor (Pitman) had a very fine home and broad acres of fertile land on both sides of the river. Else­ ,v-here in this book is a picture of the old ferry place as it appears today.

[138] J,!ISCELLANEOUS

BURWELL J. WILEY Bur,vell J. \\Tiley, who ,vas the first clerk of Randolph County for a period of seven years and the third county judge for four years, ,vas one of the best kno,vn men of the county during the first days of settlement. He ,vas a school teacher, justice of the peace, and ,vas prominent in all public affairs for many years. He ,vas the father of Henry Wiley and other children. A number of Henry \Viley7 s children reside in Pocahontas at this time. \Viley to,vnship ,vas named for this family. On the records of the county, book number one, page one, dated April 19, 1852, is recorded ·what is kno,vn in the records of Randolph County as the "Genesis of Randolph County." It concerns the activities of B. J. \Viley and its author is unkno,vn, possibly ,vritten by a contemporary official. The "Genesis" is as follow·s: "In the beginning ,vas B . .J. ,viley and B. J. \Viley ,vas the clerk, and the clerk ,vas B. J. \Viley, so sayeth the law. This is the book of the generation of Randolph County. The Territory of Arkansas begat La,v­ rence County and 1..awTence County begat Randolph County. Randolph County was in existence three hundred and sixty­ five days and begat B. J. Wiley. B. J. \Viley reigned fifteen years, during ,vhich time he labored hard in the services of his country and begat sons"'and daughters.. A.nd after B. J. \Viley had lived forty and seven years, in the fifteenth year of his reign, there came a voice from his subjects (the people) saying: 'B. J. \Viley, thou good and faithful servant~ in ·whon1 w·e are ,vell pleased, thou has labored long and faithful, thou has done mighty deeds, thou voice ,vas heard in the council halls of they state, thou name has been enro1led on the escutcheons of fame and safely filed in the archives of the halls of the legislature of your adopted state, there to remai_n a monument to future generations.' uThen our beloved and favorite son, thou l\rearied n1ind and toiling limbs must have rest and refreshments; retire

[139] HISTORY OF RA.1\'DOLPH COU1VTY from thy labor, enter into private and perfect retreat, and iet thy gray hairs go do,vn in peace to they grave. And when thou art dead, thy body laid beneath the green sod, then ,vill ,ve rear a monument over thy remains and ,vear the usual badge of mourning for thirty days. And B. J. \Viley heareth a voice and ,vas ,ve11 pleased; and the fifteenth year of his age, the eighth month of the year, and the sixth day of the month, and the fourth hour of the day, \Viley retired from his labor. And on the same day all his labors were completed. "On the seventh day of the same month of the same year he rested from a11 his labors. Such is the generation of the first born." Thus is the story of one of Randolph County's first offi­ cials, told in a unique ,vay by someone ,vho kne,v Mr. \Viley ,ve11 and desired to make a matter of public record the activi• ties of one ,vho did much to help get the ,vheels of the infant county in an infant state ro11ing smoothly.

jAl\lES p. lNGRAl\l In the list of leading n1en in the history of Randolph County the nan1e of James P. Ingram figures prominently, as does that of his son, J. ,v. (Blind Bill). The elder Ingram settled near the present Ingram cemetery, beuveen Maynard and Supply, in 1824, and for exactly 01-1e-half a century he was one of the leading n1en of the county. He "was county judge fron1 1854 to 1860, \\·as justice of the peace and deputy sheriff for over Hventy years, and possibly ,vas the adn1inistrator of 1nore estates than any man in the county's history. The official records sho,v ,vhere he ,vas guardian of many orphan children~ ,vas road commissioner and other local activities. In the family history section of this book will be found a• more detailed story of-these t,vo men. Uncle "Blind" Bill follo,ved in the footsteps of his father, except he held no county office for many years and the one of the great char­ acters of the county. Both men ,vere sociable, yet unassuming

[140] l\JISCELLA:i.tEOUS men. "\Vhile ,vell fixed in this ,vorld' s goods, they avoided display and sho,v. The story goes that during the time James P. was county judge, one day a prominent attorney o{ this time desired to see the judge on official business. Not know­ ing Judge Ingram personally, he rode up to the judge's home and inquired for "Squire Ingram." J\Irs. Ingran1 tola him he ,vould possibly find him do,vn on the creek. The visitor rode do,vn to the creek and found "a fellow· attired in a long shirt, plo,ving corn ·with a yoke of oxen." He asked the fellow ,vhere he could find the judge. Thereupon the "fellow in the long shirt" told him he ,vas the judge, much to the sur­ prise of the attorney. Many descendants of James P. Ingram reside in the county today.

EnwARD l\IcDoNALD The name of Edward lVIcl)onald in the history of Ran­ dolph County has an interesting angle. So far as ,ve kno,v, no one kno,vs ,vhere he came fro111. He ,vas a prominent figure in the county, especially in the Fourche de Thomas settle1nent during the early days. He ,vas old I.A-i,vrence County's representative at the Territorial Legislature in 1820 at Arkansas Post. Richard Searcy and Joseph Hardin also sen~ed ·with hi1n. l\IcDonald ,vas elected President of the Council. He married Milly Drenold at the hon1e of Ja1Tett Rob­ in son at Fourche de Tho1nas (then called Columbia) ~larch . 21, 1842, although he had figured prominently in the affairs of this section for many years previous. This ,vas possibly his second marriage. The records shonr ,vhere he purchased lots thirteen and fourteen in the to,vn of Davidsonville, February 6, 1817, from \Villiam Drope, a cotton n1erchant of New· Orleans ,rho ,vas also a land speculator ,vho o,vned se\·eral tracts of land in this section at that time.

[141] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

()n date of July 29, 1822, Jacob l\1iller sold Joseph Looney and Ed,vard l\IcDonald the farm known as the Hix planta­ tion on Current River. He ,vas also justice of the peace for a number of years and is listed as witness and executor of several ,vills, but his name seems to fade from the written records and memory of men during the forties, and oblivion has swallowed up his final destiny. Possibly someone ·who is a descendant of this early man of old La,vrence and Randolph County ,vill tell us \f here the family no,v resides.

JOSEPH J. ANTHONY After the organization of Randolph County, her first Representative in the lo,ver house of the Arkansas state legislature was Joseph J. Anthony. At the time of his election, Anthony lived in section 20, to,vnship 21, north range, 3 east. His farm ,vas the southeast quarter of the section named above. This place is east of the present to,vn of Supply and is no,v in Clay County. For several years after the for1nation of the county, Randolph extended over into ,vhat is no,v Clay County for some distance. During the first term of the legislature in 1937 Anthony ,vas 1nurdered in the old statehouse by John \Vilson, ,vho was the Speaker of the House at that time. Thus Randolph County's first representative is remembered chiefly as losing his life ,vhile at the post of duty for his people. Trouble can1e up over Anthony's stand against the rechar­ tering of the Real Estate banks of ,vhich \Vilson Vias president at the tin1e. ~.\n argument ensued after Anthony had offered an a1nendment and the uvo met in the aisles in bodily con­ flict. Anthony was stabbed and died instantly. \Vilson was arrested and charged ,vith first degree murder. The case ,vas taken to Saline County ,vhere he was acquitted, a verdict

[142] ,vhich caused intense indignation throughout the state. \Vilson was a brother to the ,vife of James Campbell, the first sheriff of La,vrence County. After the crime \Vilson was expelled from the legislature, Grandison D. Royston taking his place as Speaker, and he moved to Pike County (he then represented Clark County) ,vhere five years later he again ,vas elected to the same office, and again caused trouble in the body, this time with Dr. Lorenzo Gibson, ,vho reminded \Vilson of his previous crime here ,vhen he sho,ved a dis­ position to start a fight. The records of the county sho,v that on date of January l, 1838, one Samuel Anthony appeared in court and asked to be appointed administrator of the estate of Joseph J. Anthony, stating that "so far as is kno,vn he left no will and no kno,vn relative or representative nearer than myself." He does not state his relationship, ·which ,vas possibly a cousin. He ,vas appointed.

ROBERT N. HAMIL One of the best known merchants who has lived in Ran­ dolph County ,vas R. N. Hamil. He is a son of \Villia1n A. Hamil and Sarah Elizabeth Crepps, natives of Indiana but ,vho came to the county in 1848 ,vhen R. N. ,vas one year of age. For over one-hctlf a century "Uncle Bob·' sold 1ner­ chandise in Pocahontas. The author's maternal grandfather once told us many years ago that in 1882, the year following the serious drouth, that he and many of his neighbors traded with ~Ir. Hamil on credit from March until "gathering time" to enable them to make a crop after the complete failure of the year before. He said he and the others living around him (He lived out east of Attica at that time.) ,vould hitch up early in the spring and drive into Pocahontas, ,vhere they ,vould go to the store of Uncle Bob and "lay in the summer's provisions:• It ,vas not a case of going to to,vn every fe,v days as ,v-e are accustomed to doing at this time.

[143] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUf..ITY

The story goes that a certain resident of the county approached l\fr. Hamil and asked to be furnished through the summer. After the necessary papers had been made, Mr. Hamil asked the man what he ,vanted to buy that day. The reply was, first on the list, a complete outfit of fish hooks, gun powder, shot and several kinds of "twist and flat" tobacco. Upon hearing this, the story goes, Uncle Bob tore up the papers and told the man he just couldn't see his way clear to credit him. An advertisement of forty-six years ago listed him as "The Pioneer Merchant of Pocahontas." R. N. Hamil ,vas a half-brother of Uncle Bill (William H.) Waddle and Isabelle '\Vaddle, the first wife of John P. Black, another early merchant of Pocahontas. Mrs. Kate Henderson was an o,vn sister to Mr. Hamil. His son, Dr. \V. E. Hamil, lives in Pocahontas at present.

ELDER ISAAC H. \VITf One of the pioneer preachers of Randolph County was Isaac Witt, better kno,vn among the older citizens as "Parson Witt." Parson \Vitt came to Randolph County from Gibson County, Tennessee, in 1868. He was the son of Charles Homer \Vitt of the above-named countv., The wife of Parson '\Vitt was Mary Christiana Shelton, daughter of Jeremiah Shelton, also a Tennesseean. Both Eld. \Vitt and his father-in-law were Missionary Baptist ministers. Jeremiah Shelton is of the same Shelton family as the noted Revolutionary soldier, John Shelton, who built the well known "Old Rock House" which has been a landmark since about 1790 on the road bet,veen Dixon Springs and Harts­ ville, Tennessee. The author's paternal grandmother, Christiana Everett Dalton, ,vas also a member of this same Shelton family, which ,vas also related to the Johnson family Qohn, "Muxy" Jim and others)

(144] The children of Parson \Vitt were Almus J ., ,vho was sheriff and collector and judge of Randolph County, .post­ master at Pocahontas and a noted attorney here for many years; Christiana, who married P. \V. Kidd; Cora, who first married James W. Shaver and later \Vm. L. Johnson; Dr. Caleb, who married Genevieve Maynard; Isora, who married James Williams; \Villiam, who marri~d Naomi Hatley, and Lula, who first married Paul Lewis and later Carroll Odom, and later \Vm. L. Johnson. Isaac \Vitt ,vas a typical pioneer preacher and did much and lasting good in the communities where he labored.

ELI ABBOTT One of the leading men of the county around the close of the past century was Eli Abbott. For many years he was one of the most progressive citizens the county has had. Starting out in young manhood with no special financial or educa­ tional advantages, through shrewd business management he became one of the largest landholders in the county around the turn of the century. l'vlany citizens of the central part ot Randolph County were assisted in a financial way by Mr. Abbott. Possibly the most valuable and best known act of Eli Abbott was his building of the school known as Abbott Insti­ tute in 1893. Seeing the need for a local school of higher learning, he built the school and for several years was patron­ ized by a large number of young men and women ,vho had finished the lower grades elsewhere and ,vho came to May­ nard to board and take training for teaching and other pro­ f essions. ~fore is said about this school in another chapter. Mr. Abbott o,vned several good farms along Fourche and developed a large tract of bottom land in Current River bottoms near the present Reece Ridge schoolhouse. Mr. Abbott ,vas married t,vice, the last time to Lula Aus­ tin. Joe Abbott of l\1aynard, Lehman of Little Rock and Mrs. Paul ~Iaynard are children of the last marriage.

[145] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

n r. n._G __ _ .u. J.'. llll.7 J:.K B. F. Bigger (Frank), for ,vhom the to,vn of Biggers is named, is a native of the county, having been born here in 1851, the son of J. G. and Catherine Le,vis Bigger. He mar­ ried Ida l\Jay Simington, a daughter of Col. T. S. Simington. l\1 r. Bigger is kno,vn as having been the proprietor of the Higger's Hotel in Pocahontas from 1881 until his death. This hotel ,vas kno,vn far and ,vide as one of the most popular stopping places in north Arkansas, especially for the con11nercial traveller, usually called "drummers" in that day. During the years in which lVIr. Bigger operated the hotel he acquired a large tract of land on Current River, where the to,vn of Biggers no,v stands, and established a ferry and operated a still. \Vhen the Frisco railroad came through in 1902-03 it ran through his land and he and others laid off the to,vn. Three of the children of Frank and Ida Bigger reside in Randolph County at this ti_me. They are: Tom, l\Irs. R. 0. S1nith and Nlrs. Kate Harrison.

LEWIS DALTON One of the leading farmers and stockmen of the county ,vas Le,vis Dalton, ,vho came from Ripley County, l\'Iissouri, to Elevenpoint River valley in 1860. In this year he married Sarah A. Stubblefield, a daughter of Fielding Stubblefield, w·ho had been living on this stream almost a half century at this time. Here Le,vis Dalton opened up a farm near his ,vife's relatives and began farming, a voca­ tion ,vhich he follo,V"ed the rest of his life, very successfully. In 187 4, after the death of his brother, ,villiam, he became postmaster and operated a store. He also o,med a mill and cotton gin. This ,vas the beginning of the village of Dalton. For fifty years and possibly longer Le,vis Dalton ,vas per­ sonally active in the job of building up one of the finest fanns and some of the finest livestock ,vhich the county has ever had. He ,vas a strong believer in the job of taking good_

[146] .1\flSCELLA1.VEOUS care of his livestock. He often said that he personally enjoyed seeing big hogs eat yello,v corn. The story goes that .once ,vhile showing a visitor one of his fine brood so,vs, the visitor asked him if the hogs' ancestors hadn't been of pretty good blood, thereupon ~fr. Dalton ,valked over to the corn crib and opened the door ·which showed a great pile of ear com, remarking, "Here is her grandmother." 1\1 r. Dalton ,vas also interested in some property and business interests in Pocahontas. He ,vas the father of the late E. Dalton, a long-time resident of Pocahontas, and 1\'lrs. Ascenith Dalton, now of Imboden.

l)ENNIS "\V. REYNOLDS Dennis \V. Reynolds ,vas born in Jackson County, Illi­ nois, in 1840. He ,vas a son of James M. Reynolds, a North Carolinian ,vho settled in Illinois soon after the ,var of 1812. Dennis Reynolds ,vas married three times, first to Nancy Luttrell, second to l\1rs. Mary Kelsey and last to l\'Iattie \Vilkes. He and his last ,vife both died in April, 1924. He came to Cherokee Bay in 1857 ,vhere he began for himself in the mercantile business, ,vhich he continued until the outbreak of the Civil ,var. After serving in the ,var he returned home and operated stores at Coming and at Old Reyno many years. He ,vas the first business man in the to,vn of Old Reyno, ,vhich ,vas named for him. After several years at this place the Frisco railroad came through Cherokee Bay, missing that town, and, as has been told in this book before, the to,vn ,vas moved to the railroad and the present to,vn of Reyno sprang up. It ,vas also named as the old to,vn. For many years 1\fr. Reynolds ,vas sponsor of the Old Settlers' Reunion ,rhich ,,;as held in different communities of the county.

[147] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUZVTY

He ,vas one of the outstanding men of the county in his day, being a large Iandonrner and benefactor to many people. He ·was the father of l\lrs. Annie Martin of Pocahontas, Nlrs. Leota Seymour of Reyno, l\frs. Pearl Freeman of Thayer, 1\-f issouri, and other children.

JOHN \VILSON l\fEEKS Possibly no other man ,vho has lived in Randolph County as fe,v years as Judge J. \V. Meeks ever became so thoroughly Hone of us" as he did. Coming here from 1\-Iammoth Spring in 1914, he immediately became a leading citizen of the to,vn and county. J. \V. Meeks served the Sixteenth Judicial District as judge for twelve years. He ,vas one of the men responsible for the ren1oval of the remains of Thomas S. Drew, Randolph County's only Governor, from an unmarked grave in Hood County, Texas, to the Masonic cemetery in Pocahontas. Judge 1\-Ieeks ,vas a great friend of the late \V. Jeff l\IcCol­ gan, ,vho ,vas a native of the same section of Illinois as ,vas Judge l\Ieeks. .A.s is related .in the article about l\lr. l\1cCol­ gan in this book, Judge Meeks, Uncle Jeff and the late Sen­ ator \Vn1. E. Borah (of Idaho) ,vere all schoohnates in the vicinity of Barnhill and Taylorville, Illinois, in the days fol­ lo,ving the Civil \Var. The judge and Uncle Jeff w·ere Den1ocrats but Mr. Borah ,vas a Republican. During the days of the Hoover adminis­ tration ,vhen conditions ,vere bad and the party in power unpopular (especially w'ith Democrats), the author had sev­ eral occasions of being associated lvith l\fr. l\feeks and Ivlr. ~IcColgan, and ,se remember the ttvo discussing national politics and any time Borah's name ,vas mentioned they agreed that .. Bill Borah ,vas the best Republican alive:· Judge l\leeks died in 1938. His \vido,v and t,vo daughters reside in the county at the present time. His only son, Charles C., ,vas killed ,vhile in service during \Vorld \Var I.

[148] 1lllSCELLA1VEOUS

CAPTAIN J. N. BOLEN Captain Bolen ,vas a native of Pennsylvania ,vhere he was born in 1831. He came to Randolph County in 1865 and is kno,vn as the editor of the old Randolph Herald, ,vhich he published for many years. Bolen w·as a staunch Democrat. Being a Confederate soldier, he attained the rank of captain, a title ,vhich he wore the remainder of his life. He is remembered as being one of the old school weekly paper editors who "feared no man" ,vhen it came to "pub­ lishing all the news that is fit to print." He is possibly the best known editor of a ne,vspaper ,vho has lived in Randolph County, except L. F. Blankenship ,vho followed him in the publication of the Herald ,vhich has become the Star-Herald, the only newspaper printed in the county today (1946). Grandfather told us that one time a fellow ,vho had made it a habit of dropping into the Herald office each time he was in to,vn, in order "to get his name in the paper," during the time of Captain Bolen, dropped in the office as usual, there­ upon the captain wrote in his "locals" that "John Doe made his usual visit to the Herald office ,vhile in town Tuesday:' Captain Bolen married l\'1ary Caroline Albitten in 1858. She lived until 1940, dying at the age of I 03. She lived iq. Pocahontas ,vith her daughter, !VI rs. Ella Schoonover, the last n·ife of Jacob Schoonover. l\frs. Schoonover, the daughter, died in 1941 at the age of 82. l\irs. Bolen ,vas a cousin of Mary Todd, the ,vife of Abra­ ham Lincoln.

[149] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

PATRICK HENRY CRENSHAW Patrick Henry Crensha·w· ,vas named for his great grand­ father on his mother's side, the reno,vned Revolutionary orator, Patrick Henry, who the histories tell us was the orig­ inal coiner of the statement, "Give me Liberty or give me Death." He ,vas one of the most noted Ia,vyers of his ti1ne. He ,vas born in Alabama in 1849 and came with his family to Randolph County in 1856. The first Randolph County home ,vas on Elevenpoint River, near ,vhere it flo,vs into Spring River. He ,vas a Confederate soldier. His first occupation "'as as clerk in a store but later he studied la,v in the office of Baber and Henderson in Pocahontas and ,vas admitted to the bar in 1872. He ,vas a very able la,vyer and is remem­ bered today for his ,vitty sayings. In one session of court he is said to have become irritated ,vith the circuit judge and called the judge "Judge Necessity." ,vhen called upon by an opposing attorney to explain his statement, he replied,

"Don't you kno,v, ,vhy 'Necessity knolvs no law~ .H 1\fr. Crensha,v married a daughter of Atty. L. L. Mack of Greene County. He ,vas an ardent fox hunter, an eloquent speaker and a member of the Catholic church.

A. ,v. \V. BROOKS The list of early prominent men should include that of A. ,v. ,v. Brooks. ~Ir. Brooks ,vas born in 1832 in Davidson County, Tennes.see, near Nashville, the son of Richard P. and ~fary Brooks. His father ,vas an official of that county many years. A. W. \V. joined the Confederacy and after the close of the ,var came to Arkansas, first settling in La,vrence County, but in 1867 moved into Randolph, in the vicinity of the present-day Sharum community. He landed here penni­ less and rented some fresh nen.. ground the first year and

[150] llllSCELLANEOUS started farming. He was very successful in this occupation . .A.t one time he o,vned eight thousand acres of the best land in Black River bottoms. He first married Julia Richmond, also a native of Ten­ nessee, in 1855. The children of this union ,vere \Villiam P. (Billy,), who is remembered by many persons at this time; EHen, who married J. P. Rogers; Alice, ,vho married Robert Surridge, and Maggie, who married David Fender. After the death of the first ,vife, Mr. Brooks married a ,vido,v, Mcllroy, and to this union was born one child ,vhich ,ve remember. Her name was Fannie. Later descendants of A.. ,v. \V. Brooks are ·well kno,vn to the pub]ic, as the family, for many years, ,vas the best known family in the Black River bottoms section of Randolph County. \Villiam P. Brooks, kno,vn as Billy, follow·ed in the foot­ steps of his father and for many years ·was one of the leading farmers in this section and o,vned one of the 1nost prosperous plantations in upper Black River bottoms. The Brooks plan­ tation ,vas for many years a landmark for this section. Descendants of the family still reside in the county.

PuRKINs-SKINNER-EssELMAN In the list of noted persons of early -Randolph County there is a "family combination" ·which desen,·es mention. The parties of ,vhich I refer are Judge James H. Purkins, Dr. J.C. Esselman and \Vill H. Skinner. J. H. Purkins came to Randolph County from Virginia in 1856. He settled on a farm on Current River along the river in the vicinity of ~vhat is no,v kno\\n as the old Do,vney farm. Prior to coming to this section he was a merchant in the "Old Dominion.. " He married Clementina Singleton and they ,vere the parents of three children, Clement, Reria and Eliza, ,vho married Dr. J.C. Esselman. After the death of his first ,-:ife he married Ava Payne and they had one son~ James~ ,vho ,vas kilied in the Civil \Var at Glasgow·~ ~fissouri.

[151] HISTORY OF RA1.VDOLPH COUNTY

J. H. Purkins ,vas a representative in the state legislature from 1860 to I 862 and was state senator from this district in 1866. He ,vas elected county judge of Randolph County in 1877. For many years the Purkins plantation ,vas a noted land­ mark on Current River. This ,vas possibly the first farm improved on the ,vest side· of this stream, in the lo,vland section. Dr. J. C. Esseln1an, ,vho married Eliza, the daughter of Judge Purkins, came to Randolph County in 1866 from Ten­ nessee. He ,vas a soldier in the Confederate army and ,vas in many battles. He ,vas ,vith General Price in his raid through l\fissouri. He married Miss Purkins in 1864. To this .union ,vas born E. P., Tam 0., Mazie, ,vho married Min N. Carter, and Kate, ,vho married \Vill H. Skinner. Dr. Esselman '"·as one of the best kno,vn physicians ,vho has lived in Pocahontas. During his lifetime he had a ,vide range of practice and ,vas considered to be one of the best in his profession in the state. ,vill H. Skinner, ,vho n1arried Kate Esselman, came to Randolph County from Ohio in 1885. He is remembered by many of the older citizens as being a good druggist, leading banker and a very public spirited man. He ,vas one of the n1en instrumental in securing the first po,,rer plant for the city of Pocahontas besides other civic activities. His ,vido,v, l\frs. Kate Skinner, still lives in the old home near the ne,v Randolph County courthouse, and although advanced in years, is very active and takes an interest in all public matters. She is a genuine friend to many and this author makes grateful ackno,vle~oment for some valuable assistance from Mrs. Skinner in the job of getting together information regarding the city of Pocahontas before the tum of the century. Her sister, ~frs. Carter, is also still living. She occupies the old Carter home on Thomasville ,vith her daughter, Lucille.

[152] i\IISCELLANEOUS

A. Z. SCHNABAUl\l

A. Z. Schnabaum·s name should be included in any list of leading men ,vhich have_ lived in Randolph County. ~Ir. Schnabaum came to the United States &-om Austria in 1881. Like many others who came to this section from the countries of Europe during that period, he came to take advantage of the opportunities of the new· country, and to avoid the oppression and cro,vded conditions in the older country. Abe Schnabaum is remembered by tlie older citizens as "Abe Sno,vtree" as he was called during the first years that the lived in the county. 1-Ie ,vas a successful merchant of Pocahontas and Biggers for 1nany years. For a long period of time during the close of the last century and the period of the present century through the time of the first "\Vorld War, Abe Schnabaum o,vned and operated the two stores, cotton gins and many acres of farm land. He built his ,vealth up by careful and consistent dealings ,vith the people of his adopted county and was one of the best-fixed men of his day. He ,vas a good businessman and also a valuable citizen. Many persons living today recall instances where Abe Schnabaum helped them over rough spots. Although a "foreigner0 he ,vas a heavy investor in ,var bonds of the first '\Vorld \Var and did many other deeds l\·hich helped his adopted nation and local community. His ,vido,v and tl\'O sons and one daughter reside in the county at this time.

[153] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

ELIAS C. MOCK

E. C. l\lock ,vas a merchant at l\iaynard for many years. He helped a lot of people during this period. He ,vas al­ w·ays an unassuming "common man" although during his lifetime he accumulated what would be rated a fair-sized estate. Uncle Elias was a son of Isham and Polly Jarrett l\fock, both members of very early families of the county. He had a lot of relatives and friends in Randolph County and during his many years as merchant and small to,vn banker he did many acts ,vhich ,vere beneficial to the to,vn and county and helped many of his friends and neighbors over spots ,vhich ,vere tough during the days of "the depres­ sion of the early 30's. His ,vido,v still lives in Maynard. They rered two daugh­ ters, Mrs. Robert Vann and Mrs. Alene Smith. l\Ir. l\Iock passed a,vay about IO years ago, a ,vell kno,vn, highly respected native son of the section of the county ,vhere he spent his entire lifetime. J. B. Weaver, a lifelong neighbor of l\fr. l\'Iock, wrote in 1934 that Mr. Mock had been a substantial and valuable citizen of the town of May­ nard for a half a century, at that time.

[154] 1UISCELLAJ.VEOUS

RANDOLPH COUNTY POLITICS

Randolph County is said to be "the banner Democratic county" of the state. Just ho,v true this is is not definitely kno,vn. So far as ,ve kno,v, only twn Republicans have been elected to office in the county in the last sixty-five years . .Just ho,v many have been in office prior to that time is not known. No other political party has figured in the county since the death of the old \Vhig party. T,vo to,vnships in the county have a strong Republican population. These are Little Black and Roanoke. Randolph County has had a lot of good and efficient offi­ cials, and, of course, some who ,vere not so good or efficient. Randolph County folks take their politics pretty seriously. One characteristic of the citizenry of the county is that they are not very strong on the idea of continuation in office. During the past fifty-eight years only five men have served over four years in succession in the sa1ne office, and only one of these served eight, the balance six each. Prior to fifty-eight year ago only four 1uen served over six years, and these for only eight years each. No man has served over eight years successively in the same office in the one hundred and eleven years of the county's existence. This is quite a contrast from some counties of the state '\\"hich have perpetuated the same group in office, son1e for as high as thirty years in one place. It cannot be denied that too long in office tends to breed corruption and builds up "machines." True, democracy almost demands that the "pie" be passed around as one Randolph County aspirant once stated.

Some families have figured in county politics all dow·n through the years l\rhile other have not. One family, the Johnston, has had three generations in one family in office..

[ l :,51 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Rev. L. F., his son, \Villiam Henry, and \V. H.'s son, Ben. ~font .Armstrong, served in four different offices of the county-judge, circuit clerk, county clerk and sheriff. Ben F. Spikes ,vas sheriff, treasurer and county clerk. Rufe Baker ,vas representative, circuit clerk and county clerk. .A.. .J. ,vitt ,vas judge, sheriff and representative. A nu1nber of men have served in two different offices. ,v. H. Phipps and A.. H. Kibler are the only t,vo men since the Civil \Var ,vho have served over six years in the same office. ~Ir. Phipps ,ras county clerk and Mr. Kibler treas­ urer, eight years each. Only three men in the county's history have served four­ teen years a1together. They ,vere Joe T. Robinson, ,vho ,vas county and circuit clerk for that length of time, and B. J. ,vi1ey "~as county judge and county clerk, and Mont :\nnstrong v;as judge, county clerk, circuit clerk and sheriff for the san1e time. Ben F. Spikes "·as county clerk, sheriff and treasurer for a total of nvelve years. A few men served ten years altogether, and on do·wn the line. The county has been fortunate in the fact that there has not been a lot of organized machine politics in her his­ tory. A. few· tow·nships acquired reputations of being con­ trolled by a "clique," or in a fe,v remote cases, by one man. This condition did not last, though, and although some good 1nen "·ho ran for office during the time suffered as a result of these ren1ote spots, generally the parties involved \\·ere "'sn1a1l fry'' in so far as the county~ a ,vhole ,vas concerned. , Ve have, as a ,vhole, a pretty clean political set-up, and it is 1vith pride that ,ve say that a majority of our folks vote their o,vn sentiments without listening to those who would dictate to them if allowed. So far as ,ve can learn, no man has lost his life during an election day fight, and no very great number of actual personal encounters have resulted from political differences.

[156] A,f ISCELLANEOUS

A few men have been defeated for their second terms; a few have been accused of "selling out," but in a majority of cases the officials have asked for and received the "cus­ tomary" second term. A small number of Randolph County officials have "got­ ten in bad" ·while in office, especially in the collector's and treasurer's offices; a fe-\v have made bad records, but mostly the men ·who have served us do,vn through the years ha,·e been good men and carried on their ,vork efficiently. No woman has been elected to office in the county. Only four have been candidates up to the present time, and they suffered defeat. At the present date (July 31, 1946) there are nine fonner county judges living. They are: H. M. Bishop, S. l\f. \Vhite, Ben A. Bro·wn, Dee Mock, George W. Million, Joe S. Decker, Joe Snodgrass, C. H. Brooks, and Oscar Prince. Eleven representatives are living. They are: T. ,v. Can1p­ bell, Horace E. Ruff, \V. L. Pope, E. N. Ellis, J. J. Le,vis, E. G. DuBoios, J.E. S1nith, H. H. Price, R. K. Baker, .-\lvi11 Burro,v and "\iValter Jackson. Nine circuit clerks survive. They are: Ben A.. Bro,vn, J. J. Lewis, Dee Mock, Ed. R. Hicks, Joe Snodgrass, R. K. Baker, Jeff La-w·hon Jack Thomas and Carl Bro,vn. Eight county clerks are still living. They are: Ben John­ ston, Ernest T. Harrison, \V. H. Phipps, R. K. Baker, l\Iyrt \Valdron, Jim Shivley, Harry Talbott, and ,vesley Nibert. Six sheriffs are still alive. They are: R. H. Gullett, J. P. Spikes, C. H. Brooks, J. T. Thon1pson, Roland ~!orris and Guy Amos. Nine treasurers survive to the present. They are: S. l\L \Vhite, J. D. Gossett, H. L. Haynes, Clarence .Abbott, \Vill S. \\Thite, John J. ~Ioore, Jeff Law·hon, Edgar Poe and La\v rence Dalton.

[1571 JI/STORY OF RA1.VDOLPH COU1.VTY

Seven tax assessors are living at this time. They are: R. I Higginbotham, H. H. Hollo,vell, \V. E. Tiner, \Vesley Bro,vn, Luther Harnden, \Valter Jackson, and Earle Tilley. The last named man in the above lists is the present incu1nbent. A smal1 per cent of the voters of the county are influenced through the use of liquor in the election. This is regrettable and an undesirable situation. It breeds corruption and is an uncertain problem ,vithin itself. It is generally known that a man ,vho will sell his vote for a drink does not rate his great American privilege very highly, and a lot of times ,vill vote for the fel1o,v ,vho gives him the biggest or last drink. But an all-over look at the political set-up in Randolph County through the years will cause one to see that we have a pretty good county at last, and one which ,vould rate with the very best in the state.

HISTORIC SITES

The author has for a number of years advocated that the county and state should work together and take the necessary steps to n1ark the more historic spots within Randolph County. \Vhy ,ve say the state should be interested in this is the fact that several of these spots are "firsts" in the state's history. , Ve think that a small state park should be set aside and supported by the state at Old Davidsonville because of the fact that this is the site of the first courthouse, first postoffice and first land office in A.rkansas.

The site of the first court held in the state is also in our county, not far from Davidsonville. This place should be

marked bv, the state.

[158] Af!SCELLA"l\~EOUS

\Ve hope that some day ·when a future reader peruses these pages and conies to this article he ,vill say, "\Vel_l, _they finally did this." Belo,v ,ve list a few of the places ,vhich should be marked besides the two sites named above. They are: The old Lindseyville site and cemetery, which has the grave of John Gould Fletcher and other early settlers of Arkansas. The old Salem church site (First Baptist church in Arkan­ sas, at the present day Jarrett schoolhouse) . Old Pitman Ferry site across Current River in northeast Randolph County, the first ferry in the state and site of tw·o Civil War battles. Bettis home site in Pocahontas, founder of Pocahontas. De lvlunn mill site near Pocahontas, first in the state. John Janes first home, considered by some as the first settler of the county. Also the site of the first home of Dr. \Villia1n Jarrett and lvlatthias l\,lock in the county, both very early settlers. Old Mount Pisgah church site, first l\'Iethodist church in the county. Siloan1 church, oldest existing l\Iethodist church in the county. Glaze Creek Church of Christ, oldest existing church of that faith in the county. Old ~lilitary road which runs across the county, the first road in the nation west of the wlississippi River to receive Federal recognition. Hite cemetery, site of first church in Cherokee Bay. There are many other places ,vhich should be marked. This list is possibly the major ones. The North and East have long ago marked many places in their section of far lesser importance.

(159] Communities

Part Three

(160] COMAfUNITIES

ATTICA

This village and community is located in one of the early settled spots of the county, although the village itself was not established until around 1890. Miss Clara Hill was the first postmistress. Other merchants and postmasters have been the following, and possibly others whose names ,ve do not have. The list is as follo,vs: Tobe Chastian, Jasper Pace, Su]ar l\fcNabb, John Johnson, Curtis \Villiams, Raymond Elkins, Witt \Vaddell and Hulitt Haulcroft. Possibly the first settlers attended their first religious services at the old Fourche de Thomas "Salem" church which was not so far a,vay. Some of the first residents of the community, especially on the north side, may have gone to church at old Mount Pisgah on Tennessee creek, but the first church in this immediate community is said to have been an early Methodist church built sometime before 1880 at Noblin Springs, near the present home of Joseph Thomas. The cemetery was started about the same time, or possibly a little earlier. Before the cemetery was begun here the Gross cemetery ·was used by all the settlers for several miles around. The author's great grandfather, Epps l\tfarlette, and wife are buried in the Gross cemetery. They moved to this con1- munity from the Wabash valley of southern Indiana in 1879. Most all the early families are represented in the old cemeteries. The church named above ,vas moved from Noblin Spring to Attica soon after 1880 and has remained here since. The church is known as Oak Grove. The Missionary Baptist church, on the hill south of the village, ,vas built soon after the Oak Grove church. Both churches are active today. As stated in the beginning, this is an old community. In this community settled the Biggers, S,veaza, Russell, Garrett,

[161] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

McDaniel, Simington, Johnson, Tho1nas and other families before the Civil War. As has been mentioned in connection with other articles in this book, James G. Russell settled v;here Mack Riggs now lives, south of Attica, about 1825. He and other members of his family lie buried in the family cemetery near the Riggs home. Here n1as held the first Ran­ dolph County court, April 3, 1836. In this community lived Isaac L. Garrett, who ,vas the first county surveyor of the county. The late \Viley R. Rus­ sell, who was sheriff of the county and a grandson of James G. Russell, was reared here also. His father, Marion Russell, ,vas killed in the Civil War. \Villiam Russell, who ,vas appointed justice of the peace for "the settlement of Fourche de Thomas," May 27, 1815, may have been a relative of this family. At the first term of Randolph County court, John C . .Johnson, ,vho was a resident of this community, ,vas appointed road overseer for that portion of the old 1\i1ilitary road from the present-day Foster bridge on Fourche to the Roanoke to,vnshi p line. James F. Shaver stated in his family history in 1889 that his father, John Shaver, once told him that he hauled ,vheat to Russell's flour mill to have it ground into flour in 1838. He states that this was the only flour mill in this part of the country at that time. This old mill ,vas in this community. Col. Thomas Simington settled in this community before the \Var Between the States. His ,vife was a daughter of James G. Russell. He ,vas the father of the late F. L. Siming­ ton and lvirs. Frank Bigger and other children. The Bigger family settled in this community about 1840. The Holderby family also lived in this community during the first half of the nineteenth century. The first settlers of the Attica community came into the county over the old Military road, which ran through the

(162] COJJJ\1U:.VITIES community. They ,vere intermarried ,vith the settlers in the other early communities of Columbia, Pocahontas, ~\:arm Springs and those on Elevenpoint, which makes the record­ ings of the early settlers in this and other communities read much alike.

AI..BERTHA. CO~fNIUNITY

This comn1unity is that section of the county lying between l\Iaynard and Brockett. This community and its environs is sometimes referred to as' 'Flatlick" or "String­ to-ivn" at the present time, but the old Albertha was located on the Pocahontas-Maynard road just west of the present home of R. L. Baker. The first postoffice in the community ,vas farther do,vn the road and a short distance ·west of the present "Sago's Store," and ,vas called "Columbia." This office is not to be confused with the Columbia which the old settlement of "Fourche de Thomas" was later called. Ho,v­ ever, this is all in Columbia township, and the fact is that this ,vas all just about referred to in the early records as ··colun1bia." Sam Sago, Sr., was the postmaster at Columbia before the office ,vas moved to Albertha. John Autrey ,vas the first postn1aster at the ne,v location, and he named it A.lbertha . .Among the merchants ·who ,vere in business here during the existence of the to,vn "~ere Joseph Nlarshall, G. ,v. Stump and Hiram Smith. Hiram Smith was the father of ~.\unt l\Iary Spencer, .,Aunt Amelia Phipps and Uncle "\Vash Smith, no,v living at 1\-faynard, and the late James Smith. His ,vife ,vas Betty ~lcGregor, daughter of "\Villiam ~Ic­ Gregor, another early settler of this section. Early settlers in this community ,vere the Sagos, ~IcNabbs, Stumps, Buxtons, Ry bums, Carrolls, ~fartins, Lambs, James Johnston, J\Iarshalls, Davis, Kerleys, Overbys, and others ,vhose names are listed in the nearby con1munities of Jar­ rett, .:\ttica, Engleberg and ~1aynard.

[163] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUJ.lTY

On the hill just south of the old Albertha town site ,vas formerly located the old Thorny Thicket or Pleasant Grove church building. This ,vas one of the pioneer churches of this section. For many years this church Wa.$ the central assembling place for the ,vide section of country between Brockett and Maynard, and from Fourche to Current River. On the day of the big hailstorm, which occurred .July 25, I 895, lightning struck this old building and it burned. It was not rebuilt. The story of this hailstorm, ·which ,vas heaviest in the vicinity of Middlebrook, is told in this book in the "lVfis­ cellaneous Happenings" chapter. The \Vashington and Stokes schoolhouses and also two Churches of Christ of the same name are located in this sec­ tion. In this community live several old families. T·wo of the oldest citizens of the county who live almost in the same spot where they were born are Uncle Lewis Johnston and Uncle Sam Sago, of this community. Uncle Will Luter, a member of an old family of the county and ,vho for years ,vas kno,vn far and wide as the "Sweet Potato King" of the county, lived at the site of this no,v dead town until his ,vife died a fe,v years ago. He no,v resides at Doniphan.

BIGGERS

The to,vn of Biggers came into existence as a to,vn about 1900 when the St. Louis-San Francisco railroad ,vas built through Cherokee Bay. B. F. Bigger bought a tract of land here about_ 1889 and established a distillery and ferry. \Vhen the railroad came his way, he and others laid out a to,m and called it Biggers. It was early kno,vn as a mill to,vn. Several lumber and stave mills ,vere located here and ran several years, until the timber became exhausted.

[164] COA11\fUNITIES

Some of the first residents of Biggers ,vere the Shavers, Brumleys, Rileys, Shores, Blounts, Brooks, Hites, Fords; Rob­ insons, Tiptons, J ohnstons, Estes and Johnsons. Some of these still live here. Some of the long-time residents ,vho live in Biggers at present are E. C. Whittington, H. I. Johnson, H. A. Nicks, Joe H. Johnson, Dr. R. 0. Smith, ~fyrt Bennett, George F . .Johnston, J. C. Graham, Harry Hite, the Tipton and Luter families and others. The to,vn at present has a population of about four hun­ dred fifty. There are four stores, four churches and a good ten-teacher high and grade school. The country surrounding the to,vn is good fanning country. Contrary to the story that is generally true of the co1n­ n1unities in the lowland section of the county, Biggers is located in an early settled community. The land where the town is located is a part of the plan­ tation of Governor Thomas S. Drew. Drew and his family lived here around 1840. Henry Slavens, Daniel Duckworth, the early Shavers and Luttrells 1vere here around 1815 to 1830. Other early settlers in this community 1vere the Bounts, Sims, Sparkman, Brim- 1nage, and Shoemaker families. Others ,vho came later lvere the Hite, McCrary, Hatley, l\Jcllroy, Arnold, Ford, Crawley and Brumley families. Shaver's Eddy on Black River south of Biggers is an early landmark on Black River. Shumaker and Duckworth ferries on Current River and Sims Landing, also in this river, are early river points in the Biggers community. The first church in this section was built by B. J. R. Hite, grandfather of Harry Hite, now living in Biggers. The old church ,vas built at the Hite cemetery and was used both as

[165] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUiVTY

. a church and school. Hite ,vas a Methodist minister, but the building ,vas used by all ,vho cared to ,vorshi p therein. Joe H. Johnson (Big 4), no,v almost eighty years of age, recently told the author that he attended church here March 7, 1882, ,vith his parents. The preacher ,vas Parson James, an early Church of Christ preacher. This ,vas almost sixty­ five years ago. The old building has been rebuilt, but the same huge cypress logs used in the original building built around eighty years ago ,vere used and are in good condition. A photo of this bui]ding is in this book. Another old church near Biggers ,vas the old Yel1o,v Hal1, located just north of the present site of the l\'Iississippi River

: . ":;,_., .:,. . . >:: . : .._.?f < ·'

·--··. . ·•:$·' ,· ·>':_ . •~ ~~'!"! .•.} ·):i\~ . \ ' ..... ,~• ;.~~ ,. :-·_:· ~-0- . ~~ ·::- i. 0 ~Y ~-:; .. ... l("M~~ "( .. ;...::. ,f·'\.'!:~iL,~u~-~~~r:::~~~¼.{t.~1% -~ :· ~:}L P'f£.1~~~~i

FIRST CHURCH AND SCHOOL IN CHEROKEE BAY Located in Hile Cemetery. 1Wr. and Mrs. Harry Hite in pfoture.

Fuel Corporation pumping station. It was so named because yello\v paint ,vas used to paint the building. This may have been the building originally sponsored by Daniel Duck­ ,,... orth ,•.rho died before a building ·was built, and ,vhich he

[166] COilfMUNITIES had been instrumental in getting built, according to early church records. It ·was a Baptist church. Duck,vorth operated a ferry near by. Just south of Biggers ,vas the old Peru postoffice. This old office was the first in this section. It ,vas first near the Hite cemetery and then moved to near the site of the present­ day Current River Beach. Daniel Mcilroy ,vas the postmaster here in 1883, and the river crossing where the present-day High,vay 67 bridge is located was called Mcllroy's Ferry. Later the office was moved back up near Riley's cotton gin. "Squire" Riley, father of the late Sid Q. S.) Riley, lived just east of the present pumping station referred to above. Drewry S. Ford, one of the men ,vho helped hold the first county election in the county in 1837, lived near here. 1n his will, on record in the vault at Pocahontas, among other things, he stated that he ,vas holding out five hundred dol­ lars "to be used to catch and prosecute the culprit in case I am murdered by one of my enemies.H Another resident of the lower end of Cherokee Bay ,vas Daniel Lieb, ,vhose nan1e is listed in the Tennessee records of officers of the \Var of 1812. He came here at the close of the war. His relatives moved to Greene County after his death. The Luttrell family lived near the present fam1 hon1e of John Luttrell before the Civil \Var. The Luttrell cemetery near by is the oldest burying ground in Cherokee Bay. Hugh ~fcCrary was an early settler near here. The communities and towns of Reyno and Biggers have a lot of history in common. l\fany of the names listed in this article ,vere also identified with the establishment of Reyno. Some of these are the Sparkman, Shaver, Luttrell and other families. In fact, the combined histories of Reyno and Big­ gers is just a history of Cherokee Bay.

[1671 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

BLACK RIVER BOTTOMS

That portion of Randolph County commonly kno,vn as "Black River Bottoms" is the part of the county south and east of Black River and north of La,vrence County and west of Clay and Greene counties. In this territory are the communities and towi1s of O'Kean in the extreme southeast comer, Su1Tidge in the east, and Elnora, Lesterville, Manson and Shannon on the Frisco rail­ road. There are several other lesser communities 1vithin the general outline as given above. Some of these are Skaggs, Sharum, Holmes ( the old James lVIill) , and farther south, Fender, Gum Stutnp and Meredith. l\Iost of these places are no longer in existence save for a school or church. There are still trading points at Fender, i\.Janson, James and other points adjacent to the older settle­ ments. Just who the first settler in Black River bottoms ,vas is not known. The French settled at Peach Orchard on Black River, just over in Clay County, before 1800 but did not remain permanently. The first settlers at Pocahontas laid claim to most of the land near the town across the river, but most of this section ·was a vast, unbroken, swampy 1vildemess ,vhich held no inducement at that time. This ,vas not true of all the land, as there ,vere high ridges of very fertile land, but mostly inaccessible because of 5'Vamps around it. The section ,vas a hunter's paradise. The ,voods abounded "'ith bear, deer, turkey and all the smaller fur-bearing ani­ mals. It is likely that the first permanent settler ,vas a hunter ,vho was attracted by the fertile soil ,vhich he found on the higher ground during some hunting trip. After a fe,v had cleared land and built homes, roads were built, and this led others to move in. Some settlement ,vas made here about 1840, but the coming of the Civil \Var

[168] COl\fl\1 UNITIES found very few families as yet in Black River bottoms, except on the high ridges. The Dean family settled near where some members of the family still reside about 1860. A. W. James settled on the farm, which is still owned by later members of his family, about 1855. The old James 1\iiill was an early mill and for years a landmark for this section of the country. It ,vas first a horsepower mill but in 1868 was changed to a steampower. Near the close of the Civil War A. W. W. Brooks came to Randolph County and settled near the present site of the Sharum church and cemetery. For many years the Brooks plantation was one of the most extensive and proseprous farms in the county. The maternal grandfather of this author came to this farm from Gibson County, Indiana, in 1879, and he stated that there was quite a settlement here at that time. The Brooks family intermarried with the Rogers, Sur­ ridge, Fender and other families, and for many years these associated families formed a "settlement" of their o,vn. The Surridge school is named for that family, and for several years the store, gin and farm of David Fender ,vas a thriving community ,vithin itself. One of the first roads laid out in the county ran from the ferry at Pocahontas in a southeasterly direction into Greene County by ,vay of the present to,vn of O'Kean. For miles it ran through the lo,vlands and ,vas cross-laid ,vith poles. For many years this was the only route of travel from old Greensboro and Gainesville to Pocahontas and the northwest. Another old road was the road which in later years became to be known as the Pocahontas-Jacksonport road. This road ,vas first called the old Litchfield road, as it ran from Poca­ hontas to Litchfield, an early county seat of Jack.son County. This road ran down the east side of Black River through what is no,v the Richwoods community.

[169] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The Armstrong and Shoffit families were early settlers in the eastern side of this section. Armstrong bend and Skaggs Ferry ,vere ,veil known points along the river during the earI y days, and the Shoffi t family Ii ved near the present Dean community before the Civil \Var. Another early family here ,vas the \Villiams and Sanders families, who were also related to the Deans. The Holmes and Perkins families were resi­ dents of this section. The Duty .family has resided in the community near where Elijah Duty now resides for over three quarters of a century. The Mays and Luttrell families have been here many years. The Luttrell family is one of the first in the county, one branch of which settled in Cherokee Bay before 1830. The Mays family came here from the Oconee community on Elevenpoint River many years ago. A son of B. J. Wiley (who was the first clerk of Randolph County and the third judge), Henry H. Wiley, married a daughter of A. W. James. Wiley township in Black River bottoms was named for this family. After the St. Louis, Iron Mountain (Missouri Pacific) Railroad was built in the seventies an outlet ,vas opened to the outside markets and a heavy timber trade sprang up. The to,vn of O'Kean came into existence ,vith the coming of the railroad and flourished as a 1nill tow·n for a number of years. State Highway No. 90 now runs from Pocahontas to O'Kean, and one of the most highly developed farming sec­ tions of the state lies along this road. Besides Pocahontas, the first trade outlet for this section ,vas the river traffic on Black River. Hoover's Landing, ,vest of Manson, ·was an early steamboat landing, and ,vestem Black River bottoms received its first heavy merchandise from this point. The old Skaggs ferry on Black River, just above the mouth of Current River, ,vas established many years ago. It served as a crossing place for the traffic from Cherokee Bay

[1701 COA1MUNITIES to Black River bottoms and farther south. The road follo,ved to reach this old river crossing. It left ,vhat is now Highway 67, just above the bridge across Current River, and ran down through ,vhat is now the Little Bro~vn Schoolhouse community to the ferry. After crossing over on the south side, it ran do,vn across the bottoms in a southwesterly direc­ tion to,vard Walnut Ridge. At the point ,vhere Henry Higginbotham no,v lives and has a cotton gin David Fender operated a large store, gin, etc., for many years. Before the levee on Black River below Skaggs ,vas built the river broke over during high ,vater and flo,ved down across this section toward \Valnut Ridge and did not run back into the river for many miles. This low "trough" ,vhich crosses this section is said to have been the actual river bed centuries ago, before the alluvial plain was built up by the steady deposits of soil carried from the uplands by Current, Fourche and Black, which caused the latter to cut a channel along the foothills. The schools of Black River botton1s are o·Kean, Sanders. Gum Stump, Lesterville, l\Ianson, Shannon, Carter, l\Jere­ dith and the consolidated school at Surridge. Son1e of the best fam1s in Randolph County are located in this section. There are six cotton gins in this section of the conn ty and the farmers here gro,v a lot of beans for the n1arket, and there is also several herds of good stock cattle.

[171] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1\'TY

THE VILLAGE OF DALTON

The village of Dalton had its actual beginning in 1850 when Dr. John \V. Bryan established a store and postoffice northeast of the present village, across Elevenpoint River. This postoffice was called Spring Creek. "'\Villiam Dalton, who lived in the community, bought the business and moved across the river. Here he secured an office ,vhich he called Dalton. This ,vas about 1870. He was the father of James L. Dalton whose history sketch is included in this book. Lewis Dalton, a brother of William, had already located in this vicinity, w·here he had married Sarah A., daughter of Fielding Stubblefield, one of the first settlers on Eleven­ point River, coming here with his parents about 1812. After the death of William in 1870, Lewis became post­ master. He held the office several years and was succeeded by his son, Elijah. After operating the store and office several years, Elijah sold out to .A.. N. Kirkpatrick, ,vho ,vas a mer­ chant and postn1aster here many years. After the latter·s death the office has been operated by his daug·hter, l\frs. Basil Barnett, and at present by Earl James. A. N. and H. T. Kirkpatrick operated stores here and at Eln1 Store many years. During the early days of the tu\vn Le,vis Dalton operated a saw· and grist mill, and also a ~otton gin, which caused the to,vn to become an important inland trading point from the close of the Civil \Var for many years. The cotton gin was discontinued in a few years, due to the fact that the farmers in this section sa,v the advantage of stock-raising over cotton farming. As has been stated in another section of this book, i:his is one of the oldest settled communities in the county. Mem-

[172] COAll\f UNITIES hers of the \Veils, Looney, Garrett, Mcllroy, Vandergriff and Stubblefield families settled here soon after 1800. Others ,vho came here soon after were the Davis, Baker, Rice, Bro,vn, White, Nettles families. Coleman Stubblefield, from this community, was a member of the old Lawrence County legislature in 1829. William Stubblefield ,vas a juror of tp.e first term of court held in Lawrence County, in 1815. Dr. J. \V. Dalton came to this community from Missouri about 1875 and married Ascenith, the daughter of Letvis Dalton, and for many years was one of the leading physicians of this section. There has been .a number of persons in the mercantile business here during the years. Among them have been

\Villiam T. 1\fcllroy, members of the Stubblefield and Loo4 ney families, besides those named above. Others later are John Whittenberg, Rufe \Voolridge, Joe T. \Vilson, Earl James and others. This is one of the most substantial communities in the hill section of the county.

DAVIDSONVILLE

To ,vrite the story of the ancient to,vn of Davidsonville is like '"Tiring the life story of someone long since departed and ,vho, although he lived a brilliant life, it was of short duration. As is generally kno,vn, Davidsonville ,vas first known as "the town of La,vrence." Just ,vho nemed it such must have been the same individual ,vho named the county for the noted Capt. James La,vrence, a hero of the \Var of 1812. This name did not last .. About 1815, or sooner, John David­ son settled here and is credited ,vith founding a to,vn out of "a fe,v scattered cabins ,vhich were located on the site of an ancient Indian village." John Davidson ,vas the son of Gen-

[1731 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY eral \Villiam Lee Davidson of North Carolina, who was mur­ dered by a British Tory. The story goes that young Davidson pursued the murderer into the wilds of the west and avenged his father's death at New Madrid in 1805 by killing the Tory. After this John Davidson, hearing of the settlements farther to, the southwest, came to Davidsonville and founded the toivn, as described above. A postoffice was established here June 28, 1817, becoming the first postoffice in the state of Arkansas. Adam Ritchie was the first postmaster. The land upon which the town of Davidsonville was located was purchased by Lewis DeMunn & Co. from John Fagas, John Jones, Carl LeCombe, Augustus Ro,vlett and Jerome \Vatts, who jointly owned the land. This list varies some,vhat as given by different historians. The actual record in book "A," page 38, states that this land ,vas situated "about three miles up Big Black River, above the mouth of Spring River," and made up a settlement by Joseph Janis, John Fagas, Cola LeCombe, Jerome Mattix and Augustus

OLD DAVIDSONVILLE On this site was located the first -post.of/ice and first courthorue in ArkanMU. [174] COj\fMUNITIES

Revitt. The similarity of the names and spelling sho,vs that the list as originally copied from the record is in error- in some respects. Lewis DeMunn transferred this land to the county (La,v­ rence County, Territory of Missouri) for a price of t\vo hun­ dred fifty-five dollars. DeMunn purchased the land from the original owners October 16, 1815, and turned it over to the county December 16, 1815. The original town was made up of "forty-eight lots, a public square, streets, and the commons between the town and Big Black River." --rhe general layout of the to,vn can still be seen today . ...fhe to,vn ,vell, the old streets and the commons, together ,vith the public square, is located on the eastern side of the original plot of the town. This land slopes gently do·wn toward the river and ,vas a splendid location for a river town. At one time the town of Davidsonville was the most important town in the whole territory of Arkansas. The population of the town has been estimated at from four thousand down to a few hundred. The fact is, there is little likelihood that the population was ever over a few hundred. But even at that it was a very important trading post during the days of the first settlement. Some of the older families no,v residing in this section of the stat~ first lived in the vicinity of Davidsonville. Among these early settlers were those named above-the Crabtrees, the Chamberlain family, John Le,vis and son, Jacob Jarrett, Benjamin Porter, James Taylor, \Villiam Cox and others. In the spring of 1814 Colonel John Miller and Colonel Robert Smith jointly engaged in the mercantile business at Da\-idsonville. Others identified ,vith the early town were William Robinson, Andre,v CriSlvell, the Kelly family, Solomon Hewitt, James Kuykendall, James Camp­ bell, "\Villiam Hix and Richard Searcy.

[175] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The population of Davidson to\\rnship in 1820 ,vas four hundred sixty-one. This included the town of Davidsonville, so the estimate made above showed decisively that the to,vn ,vas small, as the to,vnship evidently covered a lot of addi­ tional territory. There is little chance that the town gre,v a lot more before its decline in 1829. John Davidson, for ,vhom the town was named, is reputed to have built a nice two-story home, the finest in the town. He operated a jewelry store. Davidson represented old Lawrence County in -the Missouri Territorial Legislature in 1816. Dr. John R. Hume, who lived in Ripley County, Missouri, just over the state line from Randolph County, ,vas a nephew of David­ son. He died at Doniphan in 1943. The early Lindsey family ,vas represented here for awhile. Caleb Lindsey, who is reputed to have been the first school teacher in the county, ,vas a resident both here and at Fourche de Thomas (Colum­ bia). His son, John Young Lindsey, ,vas the first Baptist minister in this section. Besides being the first postoffice in the state, Davidson­ ville sa,v the first courthouse in Arkansas built. The mound of crumbled yellow brick can still be seen in the center of the old to,vn. The building is supposed to have been a two­ story 40x40 foot brick building. All the ,vhole bricks have been carried away by souvenir hunters. A scene in court at that early courthouse ,vould undoubtedly present a very dif­ ferent picture from the courts of today. The officials, law­ yers and jurors came from widely scattered homes. Court lasted sometimes for t\vo or three weeks. "Court ,veek" ,vas the social and business bright spot of the year. People came to the county seat and put up at the taverns and left their horses in the livery stables, and after court hours much gayety and revelry ,vas often the case. But the early court, while son1etimes crude and unlearned, dealt out decisions which meant justice for all and ,vas often the Waterloo for many early day desperados who ran afoul of the early men of law.

[176] Besides being the site of the first courthouse and post­ office in Arkansas, Davidsonville had the first United States Land Office in the state. This office was established in 1820. Hart,vell Boswell ,vas appointed registrar and John Trimble, receiver. The United States Land Office ,vas first established in 1812 as a bureau in the U.S. Treasury Department, and ,vas under that department when the first portoffice was established in Arkansas. In 1849 this bureau ,vas transferred to the Department of the Interior This office played a very important part in the disposition of public lands until the Homestead Law was passed in 1862. Some work was done by the land office direct from Washington before the estab- 1ishment of the local office. The first land survey in the state was made by the Federal Government in 1815 between the Arkansas and St. Francis rivers. In many of the state and local histories and magazine articles of the past there has appeared the picture of a log house ,vhich ,vas supposed to have been the courthouse at Davidsonville. This is an error that should be corrected here. The house pictured is the house ,vhere the first county court of Lawrence County was held in 1815. It was the home of Solomon Hewitt. Solomon He,vitt sold this place to Ben­ jamin Crowley, from whom Cro,vley's Ridge ,vas named, October 12, 1819. It ,vas located three miles up Spring River, above the mouth of Elevenpoint, on the east side, where he operated a ferry. Historically, Davidsonville is the most important spot in Arkansas. The old to,vn not only represented the ••first"' in everything political in the state and counties of both La,v­ rence and Randolph, it was a very important industrial cen­ ter, at least from its beginning until 1829. ~lany stories have been told about the decline of this, our first town. It ,vill never be kno,vn just ,vhy Davidsonville passed out of existence in such a short time after the zenith of its career. The fact is, the most logical reason appears to

[177] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY be that ,vhen the old Southwest Trail (now kno,vn as the old l\iilitary road) was permanently marked and improved, it missed the town a few miles, and Jackson sprang up and gre,v rapidly at the expense of Davidsonville. The first road, as explained elsewhere in this book, ran by Davidsonville, but it was a mere trail and only ran this way because the to,rn had already been established and necessity demanded it. But ,vhen a permanent road was marked out, the bad location of the old town in regards to river crossings and flood lands ca used the surveyors to by-pass the town, going across the country from Pitman via Columbia to cross Elevenpoint near the present town of Imboden. The to,vn of Jackson ,vas located about three miles northeast of Imboden. Paul Starling no,v ( 1946) resides on the site of the old town. When the county seat was moved here in 1829, Davidsonville lost its importance. The story of a dreadful epidemic of cholera ,vi ping out the population is undoubtedly exaggerated. The true story probably is that it was on a serious decline and when the cholera or yello,v fever was brought in by rivermen from the south, and many of the citizens died of the disease, the rest decided to move to the now town of Jackson and elsewhere. It is interesting to note that, while Jackson caused the downfall of Davidsonville, it too was short-lived. There is ,·ery little on record to denote the existence of Jackson after I 835. At this date the county of Randolph ,vas set aside fron1 the n1other county of La,vrence. The county seat of La,v­ rence being Jackson and Jackson being in that part given to Randolph County, Lawrence County was, for the third time in its twenty years of existence, required to seek a new· town for the county seat. This was done, and Smithville ,vas the to,\'n chosen. Randolph did not choose Jackson as its county seat but held an election (more will be said of this in another chapter) to decide whether it would be located at Columbia or Pocahontas, and Pocahontas won.

[1781 COMMUNITIES

Such is a summary of the brief existence of Davidsonville, Arkansas, first county seat town and the first place .in the state to be designated officially by Uncle Sam's Postoffice Department for the receiving and dispatch of mail. Five generations of people have lived since their ancestors settled in this frontier town, but tradition and legends handed down to use will always keep alive the story of our first "settle­ ment" ,vithin the bounds of Randolph County, even though the town has been buried in oblivion a century and a quarter at this time, in so far as visible existence is concerned.

THE SETTLE1\1ENT OF FOURCHE DE THOI\IAS

.. fhe exact location of the co1nmunity ,vhich ,vas orig­ inally called Fourche de l\ilaux is the community ,vhich at this date is that part of the country, to state it roughly, from the "Foster ford," sometimes called the "Decker bridge," along the road going northeast to,vard Maynard to about ,vhere William Bridges now lives. This has been a much-named community in the century and almost one half of its existence. Dr. Englemann, noted German scientist and physician who travelled dol\i"ll the old l\1ilitary road in March, 1837, states that at that time it ,vas kno,vn as "Fourche du Mas/' w11ich, he says, was a corruption of the French name, de 1Iaux. He says that the name came from a French trapper who ,\Tas the first ,vhite man in this section. The early records of the county called it "Fourche de Thomas/' presumably after some early settler named Thomas. The next name applied to this community was '"Columbia." Columbia to-nrnship, in which this community is located, was named from this settlement. Sometime during this period the east end of this vicinity became kno,m as '"LindseY"ille./'· The first merchant here ,vas David Plott, ,vho ran a store here in the early thirties. Years later, and the best kno,vn merchant here (at Lindseyville) ,vas the late

[179] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1.VTY

Joe Gamel. Since the decline of the above names, the com­ munity ,vas called ''Foster," and a postoffice ·west of the river ,vas of that name. Since the decline and passing of the Foster store and office, Uncle Joe Jarrett, a grandson of Dr. \Vil­ liam Jarrett, opened a small store on almost the exact site of the old Fourche de Thomas site, and the community is no,v called "Jarrett." The schopl building nearby is offi­ cially listed on the school records of Randolph County as "Jarrett School District Number 9." Just ,vho the first permanent settler in this community was is not kno-wn. \Villiam Jarrett, brother of the above­ named Uncle Joe Jarrett V\7ho died in Little Rock in 1944, contended that his grandfather, Dr. \Villiam Jarrett bought land from Richard Fletcher at Fourche de Thomas in 1801. This Richard Fletcher was the father of John Gould Fletcher who settled here in 1815. Miss Mary Fletcher, no,v residing in Little Rock, a descendant of Richard Fletcher, states that he never lived in Arkansas. He ,vas one of the original pat­ entees who located in the first settlement of Tennessee on th Watauga River in that state in 1775. There seems to be a possibility that he at one time came to this section and entered land and then ,vent back to Tennessee to spend the remainder of his life, but his son, John Gould, came here in 1815 to make his permanent home. He died here in 1825 and lies buried in the old Lindseyville burying ground. Some members of the Fletcher family, together ,vith the Lindsey and Davis families, removed to Saline (no,v in Pulaski) County soon after the death of John Gould Fletcher. The family has been prominent in that section since that date. The Lindsey family, ,vhich was much intermarried ,vith the Fletchers, located here about the same time. The first !jndseys to come here lvere James, Eli and Caleb, ,vho came fro1n Christian County, Kentucky. The first record book of old La,vrence County shows that Caleb Lindsey was administrator of the ,vill of Martin l\filler, ,vhich lvas dated November 22, 1819. In this ·w-ill Miller stated that he had

[180] COl\1MU1.VITIES

_ already given his older children their share, among which ,vas a pre-emption claim "on the ,vaters of Fourche de Thomas" ,vhich he bequeathed to his daughter, Hannah, 1:vho at that time ,vas the ,vife of Dr. \Villiam Jarrett. She had been previously married to Gabriel Seavers, ,vho is reputed to have heen ,vounded at the battle of N e,v Orleans. Caleb Lindsey is reputed to have taught the first school in A.rkansas, in a cave in ,vestern Randolph County, ,vhile he lived here. He died in Pulaski County in 1826. Eli Lindsey ,vas the first l\Jethodist preacher in Arkansas. He preached on a circuit on Spring River in 1815. Eli and Caleb are said to be the sons of James Lindsey, and John Young Lindsey, one of the first Baptist preachers in Arkansas, ,vas a son of

OLD COLfilIBIA OR FOURCHE DE THOMAS CHURCH SITE Site of the first Baptist Church in Arkansas

Caleb. He is said to have been one of the organizers of the church at Columbia (Fourche de Thomas at that time), ,vhich ,\~as the first Baptist church in ..Arkansas.. Houck's Histon.' of Soutlnvest ~fissouri states that one Rev. J. ~I.

[181 J HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Peck preached at this church in 1817. The actual date of the organization was probably in 1815. This old church stood on ,vhat is now Uncle Joe Jarrett's land, just up the hill a short distance south of his home and store building. After a few years John Young Lindsey moved to Saline County, ,vhere he established another "Salem" church. This was the name given the first Columbia church. Other early settlers here were the Kellys, Robinsons, Davis, Martins, Plotts, Bollingers, Carrolls, Mocks, Shavers, Russells, ~forris and others, including Thomas Foster, ,vho settled here in 1820. Roy Foster and his brothers, grandsons of Thomas Foster, now own land of which they have a deed made to John Murray and signed by President Van Buren. This deed and also some owned by Mr. Jarrett are written in long-hand on sheepskin. The old Fourche de Thomas postoffice was discontinued about 1857. Henry Schoolcraft visited this frontier settle­ ment in 1818 and spoke favorably of it. Dr. Englemann, in his account of spending the night of March 12, 1837, at the home of David Plott here, states that the future reader of his notes refrain from thinking that he ,vas in the midst of a settlen1ent of ignorant back,voodsmen. But contrary to this, he ,vrote in his record that they ,vere ,veil info1med and intelligent, industrious people. On July 4, 1821, the settlers around Fourche de Thomas celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence with a big barbecue. The day ,vas royally celebrated, according to information handed do,m to us. A liberty pole, taller than the trees, ,vas erected. This pole stood for many years and became a noted land­ mark. A military parade ·was staged ·with Jacob Shaver as grand marshal. He was mounted upon a fine Kentucky stal­ lion and put the menfolks through a series of marches. Daniel Plott read the Declaration of Independence ,vith great fen·or. ~Iatthias Mock presided over the feast and ,vas ably assisted by Dr. P. R. Pitman and Dr. ,villiam Jarrett.

[182] COMMUNITIES

\Vhen Randolph County was organized and the time came to choose a site for the county seat, Fourche de Thomas (although it ,vas called Columbia then) was a strong con­ tender for the place. The proposition was left to a vote of the people of the county as a whole. The story goes that Ransom S. Bettis and his son-in-law, Thonias S. Drew, o,vned the land where the to,vn of Pocahontas was located and on election day they advertised a free barbecue and picnic, ,vhere eats ,vere plentiful and liquor flo,ved freely. At this time a citizen could vote any,vhere in the county he desired. ,vith a majority of the citizens of the county in attendance, and ,vith spirits running high as a result of the free drinks, the majority voted in favor of Pocahontas instead of Columbia. If this story is true, this is why the county seat ,vas located at Pocahontas instead of Columbia. An old settler of Columbia was asked later why the to,vn of Pocahontas was thus named. He replied that it ·was sup­ posed to have been named for the Indian princess ,vho saved the life of Captain John Smith, but that he had a different story. He said the unfair tactics used against C0Jun1bia to land the county seat at Pocahontas justified na1ning it '"Poke­ it-on-to-us·' instead of the regular ,vay of spelling it. So with this ,ve close the story of the "Settle1nent of Fourche de Thomas." For almost one hundred and fifty years this ancient settlement has lived on in its place in the history of Randolph County.. A. traveller who passed along this ,vay today, not knowing the history of this region, ,vould n1ove over soil which felt the footsteps of the Frenchmen De l\Iaux, David Crockett, Stephen F. Austin, James \Voodson Bates, \Vashington Irving and all the hosts who went south­ ,vest over the old ~Iilitary road trail to become the pioneers and forefathers of the millions who now inhabit Arkansas, Texas and Oklahoma unawares. If the old cedars at old Lindseyville could speak they ·wnuld tell us stories of long dead men ,vho once lived and had their homes in this com­ munity, ,vhose stories ,ve "\\"ill never know·.

[183] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

GLAZE CREEK CHURCH

This old church is named for the creek near which it is located. In the early records of old Lawrence County the creek was called "Glaze Kenon" creek. The legal description of the church is: "Fractional part of the north part of the south one-half of the northeast quarter of the southeast quar­ ter of section eight, to,vnship t,venty-one north, range nvo east." There is something about a legal land description, while explicit, yet is vague and far a,vay sounding. This old church is located near the eastern boundary line of Siloam township, about two miles northwest of Supply. It was founded as a Church of Christ in 1845 by William Torrence Johnson (,vho ,vas the father of the late John A. Johnson), Asa Taylor (the grandfather of Ben F. and Albert Taylor), James Tibb Johnson (father of the late William and Randolph Johnson), ,villiam McNatt and others who had for1nerly been men1bers of the old Knob Creek church near Dukedo1n, \Vheatley County, Tennessee, before n1igrat­ ing to Randolph County, Arkansas. The first building ,vas a s1nall log house, used for both church and school. Later a he\ved log house ,vas built, about one-half mile southwest of the first one. The site was deeded to the church by \Villiam T. Johnson, one of the members spoken of above. This ,vas before the Civil \Var. This same building was used until I 894, when a nice frame building ,vas erected. This building ,vas blo,vn do,vn by a cyclone June 5, 1915, and the present building ,vas erected soon aftenvards. Some of the first ministers to preach here ,vere Elders Lemmons, James, Rush, Hollo,vell, Peter Shaver, Curry and Uncle Zera Allen ·who lived only a short distance over the hills to the northeast. ~[any other leading ministers of the church have preached at this place in later years.

[184] COMMUNITIES

Some of the first members of the Glaze Creek Church of Christ ,vere the McN atts, \Voodalls, Parishs, Rings, Jacksons, Johnsons, Cox, Wilsons, Taylors, Athys, and others who lived in this section during this time. Uncle Ben F. Taylor of St. Louis and his brother Albert, now of Doniphan, have been members of this church over sixty years. Two sisters, Mary Ann and Evaline McNatt, ,vere t,vo of the most faithful members of this old church during its first days. They helped organize it. They ,vere both over fifty years of age before they married, and neither had ever cooked on a cookstove until after her ,vedding. Descendants of all the above families sti11 Jive in this section.

GRAVESVILLE AND SlJRROlJNDING COl\Jl\1lJNITY

That section of Randolph County east of E]evenpoint River, north of the Imboden-Pocahontas road and sout11,,~est of Hamil and Elevenpoint neighborhoods, is a long-settled section, however, lacking one definite community center or to,vn. On the Pocahontas-Dalton road is located the old Gra,~es­ ville community. Here settled some of the Tylers, \Veather­ fords, Hibbards, Johnsons, Thompsons and others during the first half of the past century. The father of Vincent Segraves, also named \'incent, set­ tled in this community in 1833, coming here from North Carolina. The school and community gets its name from this family. Just why the first two letters (Se) ,vere dropped is not knuivn. Segraves opened a store here about 1880 and ,vas later joined by \V. E. Hibbard, and later by J. \V. \Veatherford. These families are still represented here. The Presley family also lived near here.

[185] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

A few miles north,vest of Gravesville is the Elevenpoint old postoffice location which was first called Lima. Daniel Mcilroy ran a store and was postmaster here around 1870. He later moved from here to Cherokee Bay, where he was postmaster at Peru, reference of ,vhich is made elsewhere in this book. The Ross, Tyler, Vandergriff, Looney, Wyatt, Jackson, Stubblefield and other families settled here during the early thirties. Some of the oldest existing buildings in the country are in this section. The old Pocahontas-Elm Store road ran through this community. South of the Elevenpoint and Gravesville communities is the N e\v Chapel school district and its environs. The old lVIcllroy ford (no,v bridged), the Layl ford and the Black's ferry . bridge. are crossing on Elevenpoint west of these com- mun1t1es. In the New Chapel community settled the Ha,vk.ins, Hul­ vey, Bly, Graham, Cravens, Burke, Pierce, Cavenar, Tolliver, Camp, Kirk, Fa1To,v, Lee and other families during the early days of settlement. The present N e,v Chapel school is a consolidation of the original Ne,v Honie and Lee's Chapel schools. The old Poca~ hontas-Black's Ferry road ran through this conununity. Some of the. oldest settled fam1s on Elevenpoint River are in this secuon. UFive wlile'' Spring or Shiloh community is just east of here. This community had a postoffice for several years called Lorine. J. C. ~fondy and others operated stores here around the tum of the centurv. J

LI ~ti 1 COMl\-fUNITIES

THE HAMIL COMMUNITY

This section of Randolph County is located on the "head­ waters of Tennessee creek," beuveen the "\Vann Springs-Poca­ hontas road and Elevenpoint River. The town had its beginning about 1890 ·when J. D. Jack­ son opened a store and secured a postoffice ·which he named for the Hamil family. George \V. Bro,vn ,vas also a 1nerchant here 1nany years. The \Valdron, Massey, Hurn, Spikes, Johnson, Roach, Presley, Jackson, Bro,vn, Davis, Tyler and \Vhitrock families are early residents of this community. Some of them came here as early as 1830. The old Antioch church is located in this community. It is one of the oldest Baptist churches in the county. There ,vas also at one time a church at the old Roach cemetery, the land having been given to the church by \Villiam Roach. Just east of here is the site of the old l\Iount Pisgah church,. ·which ,vas first started by lVillian1 Spikes and others about 1830. Just east of Han1il is also the site of the old Sw·arts post­ office. Ben F. Spikes, Tom Tiner and others operated stores here many years ago. The story goes that A,Ir. Spikes desired that the office be named for his wife and sent in the name "Neatie" or "N eetie" and that the authorities in the Postoffice Department at \Vashington misread the ,vord and sent Uncle Ben a stamp ,vith the ,vord "Necktie" on it and a commission as post­ master at "Necktie.'' The name ,vas changed to Sw·arts after that. ,vaddells, Roaches, Cooks and others have operated stores at Hamil since the days of Jackson and Bro,vn.

[1871 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

This co1nmunity has ahvays been very civic minded. They take a very active part in the affairs of the county. It is possible that this township (Jackson) has furnished more county officials than any other small township in the county. There are a number of good farms along the creek, and this section is a good livestock gro,ving community. There is also some rough land in this section ,vith some of the highest hills in the county. The schools nearest to Hamil are the Hamil and P1eas­ an t Hill schools. A number of substantial farm families live in this com­ munity and most of them are descendants of the very first settlers ,vho came here.

JOHNSTONTO\VN, ON CURRENT RIVER

This, no,v dead, river to,vn ,vas located on Current River about one 1nile ,vest of the present to,vn of Reyno. Just ,vhen the to,vn ,vas first established is not kno·wn. It is pos­ sibly one of the oldest river steamboat landings in north ~.\rkansas. In the old cemetery near the site of the old to,vn lie buried some of the first settlers of the county, especially Cherokee Bay. The \Vinninham family, ,vhich is one of the first names known in this section, resided near here, and several members are buried in the cemetery near the center ,vhere the large cedar trees stand. .A.s is recorded else,vhere, Sherrod· \Vinningham ,vas ordained to preach in this community, June 7, 1834. \Vil­ liam ~!aeon and Henry ~:fcElmurry ,vere al.so citizens of this community at the time. The Blount family ,vas also early residents here, as ,\·ere the \Vatsons and other families already referred to.

(1881 COl\fAf UNITIES

The place gets its name from .James .Johnston, ,vho ,vas the son of \V. P. G. (Green) Johnston, ,vho came to t-he vil­ lage from Little Black to,vnship during the latter part of the last century and became the leading citizen and business man. Be o,vned a lot of land in the vicinity and ,vas a stock-raiser and cotton ginner. He died at Reyno in 1924. The follo,ving article about Johnstonto,vn ,vas ,vritten by J. C. Renie of Reyno, which ,ve publish belo,v. It is a very good article about this place and also portrays the story which was true of the fate of so many of the old river towns of this period. It is as follows: "Prior to the building of the Frisco railroad from Poca­ hontas to Cape Girardeau, in 1902, the eastern portion of Randolph County ·which lies east of Current River ,vas almost completely isolated from Pocahontas on account of overflow lands and bad roads. The only dependable means of transportation to the outside ·world ·was by river boats. Numerous points along Current River became noted as boat landings. Among these was Sim's Landings, Mcllroy's Ferry (now Current River Beach), Bigger's Ferry, Shumaker's Ferry, Box House Landing and Johnstontown. From about 1880 until 1904 Johnstonto,vn ,vas the lead­ ing river to,vn between Pocahontas and Doniphan. It ,vould he impossible to enumerate all the business establishments w·hich ,vere located during that period at this to,vn. There ,vere several sa,vmills, one distillery, g1 ist mills, cotton gins. One of these gins was the only cotton gin ever operated in Randolph County which produced round bales. There ,vas also a brick and tile manufacturing plant, a heading and stave factory7 shops and stores too numerous to mention. The railroad missed J ohnstonto,vn about a mile. A spur switch ,vas built from the main line to the to,vn and river. Quite a lot ,vas done by the enterprising citizens of the to,vn to hold the trade at Johnstonto,vn, but most everyone ,vanted to see the cars go by, so other sites ,vere secured along the railroad.

[189] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The to-wns of Reyno and Biggers, on each side of this ancient to,vn, sprang up, and old Johnstonto-wn began to go do-,vn. The slow steamboat gave ,vay to the train which ,vas so much faster. All this ,vas the death knell of Johnstonto-wn. .All that is left of the old to,vn at this day is a memory of former glory. Nobody ever goes there or is interested in this, one of the county's first towns, except to fish. This is a good place for fishing and is no,v kno,vn only as "Johnstontown's Eddy on Current River."

HIGH POIN'"f SCHO()L

The subject of this article is a little one-room school. tucked back on a common country road in ,vestern Siloam township. There is nothing unusual or spectacular about the place in the least, except it happens to be the spot where the author of this book attended his first day of school in July, l 906. The first building was about a mile east of the present one. It was in the old building that this ,vriter began his upn1 ard climb on the ladder of education. (\iVe did not climb high enough.) l\Irs. Joe Perry Spikes, no,v living in Pocahontas ,vas my first teacher. She ,vas then "~Iiss Dora" King. Other teachers that ,ve can remember at this time ·were Lindsey and l\'[yrtle ~filler, ~fartha Acree Grissom, Ed. Buxton, Lora Poynor \Vilson and l\'1ara Stubblefield Cre,vs. \Ve believe that these ,vere all the persons ,vhom ,ve had the pleasure of studying under at this place. This old school ,vas established sometime between 1885 and 1890. Before it ,vas established the children in this com­ munity attended school at an old house which Uncle Ben Grissom built on his farm near the state line. Those who did not go there l\"ere sent to old New Hope, on ~fud creek near the old l\fock farm, or down "in the Jarrett Settlement."

[190] COAIAtUNITIES

\Ve can see the old building today through the eye of memory. It ,vas about eighteen by thirty feet in size. -T,vo ,vindows on each side and a c;louble door made up the open­ ings. It ,vas ceiled on the inside ,vith pine lumber at least t'\velve inches wide. The outside ,vas "boxed and stripped." It stood in a grove of virgin white oak trees which gre,v acorns by the bushels, the long shiny brown ones which look like machinegun bullets. At the rear of the house, on the east, was our ball ground. "Home base" was about thirty yards do,vn the road from the school building, and it ,vas definitely a mark of distinction to anyone ,vho could bat a ball that "hit the schoolhouse."

Lf 5 .1:--<;,~A~-,· K.

OW :&IASONIC HALL-IN SILOAM TOWNSHIP One of the /int Masonic meeting places in the state. Nou, the home of Mrs. Molly Marlette and daughter.

The seats were home-made. .A. ,vide desk was built on the back of the seat, ,vhich was too heavy in proportion to the seat front. They were easily overturned, often a whole ro,v falling over at one time. A "good" blackboard ,vas nailed

[191] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY- to the ,vall at the back of the room and a black strip about three feet ,vide ,vas painted along the wall on both sides to provide extra writing surface ,vhen needed. The painted part ,vas slick and the chalk did not adhere to it very well. A long varnished veneered Rand-McNally map case was hung on the ,vall near the blackboard, on the south side of the room, but ,vas seldom used. The inside of the building ,vas never painted, and dur­ ing all the years ,vhich ,ve attended the school the smell of pine rosin ,vas in the room. A cistern ,vas dug at the south­ eastern corner of the building, but it soon caved in, leaving the corner of the house suspended in the air. After that ,vater ,vas carried from a small spring about three-fourths of a mile northeast of the school in "Turkey Pen" hollo,v, near Fourche Dumas creek. During the days of heaviest population in the district there were around forty-five pupils. \Vhile there was never over one teacher, there has been some of the best teachers that the county ever produced who taught here. During the days when the school fairs were popular, and one was held each October at Pocahontas, this little back­ ,voods school carried a·way several top honors. From about 1910 to 1918 this was considered the champion school of the county for good "spellers." On Friday afternoon "beuveen reces.s and turning-out tin1e" there ,vas u~ually held a spelling and ciphering match. Sometimes neighboring schools ,vould visit there and hold contests. \Vhen there was no spelling or ciphering match there ,vas usually a "program." Poems were recited, dia­ logues ,vere rendered and someti1nes debates ,vere held.

,..fhe last day of school ,vas ahvays a gala affair. The teacher always brought a Htreat0 of candy for the children and several of the patrons attended. Prizes ,vere awarded for those ,vho "got the most headmarks.0 Such ,vas a picture of

[192] High Point school during the first years of this century. The district now has a nice, ne,v building, built on modern lines, and, like all other rural schools of the county, has a lot of advantages over the old-time ones. While this school district has not produced any Henry Fords, Abraham Lincolns or John D. Rockefellers that ,ve kno,v about, yet it has turned out many good and useful citizens who have made their mark in life.

MIDDLEBROOK

The to,vn, or village, of ~fiddlebrook is located about one n1ile south of the early trading post called Cedarville. Old Cedarville was a trading center a hundred years ago. A n1ilc and one-half southeast of Middlebrook is located the old Siloam church which was also built about a hundred years ago. Two miles west of Middlebrook is located the "Old Hall" place. This old two-story log residence is reputed to have been the site of the first, or one of the first, l\fasonic lodges in Arkansas. Three miles east of this village is located the old Glaze Creek church which is also a century old. Thus the town of Middlebrook is located in the midst of a very old section of Randolph County. The town of Middlebrook proper came into existence about 1878. The late Charles G. Johnston and Ruben \\Til­ son opened up a small store here in that year. The name of the to,vn was taken from the creek ,vhich runs just south of the village and is supposed to be half ,vay or the "middle brook," between Doniphan, l\fissouri, and Pocahontas. Johnston and Wilson built a large store building about t,vo years later and in I 885 Le,vis B. Johnston hecan1e a partner ,vith his son in the store. A fe,v years later they sold the business to Eli Abbott and J.M. C. Lehman. In 1889 9 G .. H .. "Dock ' Ingram built a cotton gin at ~liddlebrook and

[1931 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUlvTY for many years it has been a good inland trading post. \V. l\I. Hogan, ex-sheriff of the county, who was a ,vell kno,vn tim­ ber dealer, opened another store to supply his trade, and later sold out to Rev. J. A. Spence, who operated the store and postoffice for over twenty years. Other merchants who have been in business at Middlebrook are S. I. D. Smith, Bob Cox, S. M. Johnson, M. J. Pace, Jess Burrow, and of late Ellis \Vright, Clifford Phipps, Barkley and Son, J. T. Jones, and at present J. G. Jones and Son. Tom Phipps operated a store a long time just ,vest of Middlebrook at his mill, now the home of his son, Claud, and family. l\:f iddlebrook has always had a good one-room country school. 1 .. he physicians ,vho have served this comn1unity during the years ,vere Dr. \V. T. S,vindle, Dr. Moses \Vilson, Dr. William Carrens, ,vho lived here, and Dr. J. R. Loftis, Dr. C. Finnie and others from Maynard and other nearby com­ m unities. Some of the early families in this comn1unity ,vere the Luters, Raperts, Jones, Odoms, Spencers, Lindseys, Spences, Parkers, \Vilsons, Phipps, Johnsons, Toys, \Vrights, John­ stons, Brow·ns and others too numerous to list here.

~I.A.YN.A.RD

In the foothills of the Ozark l\lountains, eleven miles north of Pocahontas, nestles the little to,vn of ~Iaynard. l\'1aynard is at the crossing of the old Military road and the Doniphan-Pocahontas road, also the old road ,vhich ran from the old Columbia settlement to the old Perkins (later the Do,mey and other) Ferry. Captain John ~Iaynard settled here in 1872 and estab­ lished a mercantile business. This store ,vas located on the

[194] CO.iHAf UNITIES hill ,vhere the old Maynard home no,v stands. He called the place "Ne,v Prospect_" Captain Maynard also o,vned an old-time tread,vheel cot­ ton gin. In 1885 a postoffice was established here and called lvlay­ nard for the Maynard family. Claiborne Tipton ,vas the first postmaster. J. M. C. Lehman had the first drug store in Maynard . .J atnes Brockett came to lvlaynard in 1884 and installed a flour, saw and grist mi]l. He later moved do,vn the road to the present steel bridge across Fourche and built another mi1l, secured a postoffice and put in a store, and the place ,vas named Brockett. Albert Hatley built a cotton gin in Maynard in 1888. The town has three churches, a Missionary Baptist, Meth­ odist and Church of Christ. All three churches have held regular services for many years. Prof. R. L. Williford and S. 0. Penick established the first ne,vspaper in Maynard in 1895. The paper was moved to Pocahontas but later \V. R. Lindsey secured full ownership and moved it back to l\tfaynard and named it the Northeast Arkansas Enterprise. A "Boom Edition" of the paper ·which Mr. Lindsey published a short time before his death ,vas a notable issue and several copies of it are still in existence. In 1884 E .. C. l\fock opened up a store in Maynard and for over one-half a century ,vas one of the leading merchanu of Randolph County. The town of Maynard has three fine springs ,vhich have never failed. These are the Abbott, the School and the Big Spring. They furnish cold, healthful mountain water for many people. In 1899 the Bank of l\Iaynard was organized by E .. C. l\fock, Eli Abbott, J. i\L C. Lehman and others, and for

[195] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY almost forty years ,vas a thriving institution, until it ,vas moved to Pocahontas and merged ,vith the bank there a fe,v years ago. Eli Abbott built a school of higher learning in 1\-Iaynard in 1894. A more complete story of this institution is recorded in a special chapter, Maynard Schools. The town and community has always been strong for education. Prof. John and "Miss Eliza" Hogan were the town's most noted educators. Other educators, most of whom ,vere col­ lege graduates (even during the days ,vhen educational require1nents ,vere lo,v), ,vere the Hogans, Rorex, Sha,v, Do,vns, Orr, 1\fyrick, Johnson, \Vyatt, Hamil, Peters, Cu1n- 1nins, Freeman, Goodga1ne, Phipps, \Villiford and others "'hose influence ,vill never die. J\tlany persons who have become noted ,vere educated at l\Iaynard. The story of the to,vn's schools, including the Abbott Institute, Ouachita Maynard Academy and the present-day school is recorded in a separate article. The brothers of Captain John Maynard, Thomas and Stith, "Were also early residents of the town as were many others including A. J. \Veaver, father of J. B. Weaver of l\Iaynard at present. .J. B. \Veaver should be included as one of the builders of the to,vn. A resident of the to,vn said a fe,v years ago that ,\·hen they needed something done, instead of applying the old familier saying of "Let George do it,,. everybody would say "Tell J. B. \Veaver, he will do it.0 --rhe ,vriter is indebted to ~Ir. \Veaver and ~Irs. Clifford Price for the following list of other early residents of May­ nard. Mrs. Price is a daughter of Stith Maynard. The list is as follo,vs:

[1961 COM1\1UNITIES

.J. C. Phipps, S. R. Phipps, the Ten1pletons, the Hogans, the Richardsons, Dick Beemis, Uncle Hiram Smith,· Wil­ liam Bradford, David Culver, J. S. Anderson, Uncle \Villiam Le,vis, C. H. Carter, Rev. Do,vney, Dr. Slaughter, .J. D. Poynor, W. H. Tipton, J. R. Acree, \V. A. Hurley, Rev. ~1. D. Bo,vers, Jeff \Voodall, \V. H . .Johnston, John Vester, R. A. Lentz, Rev. E. T. Lincoln, T. J. Red,vine, D. H. Ha,vkins, .J. A. Spence, ,v. D. and C. M. C. Spencer, H. l\f. (:rockett, Dr. .J. B. McClure, \V. R. Bolen, W. E. Navy, .J. Q. Pond, T. W. Campbell, H. R. King, Adam and John Anspach, W. M. Crismon, Joe Lomax, H. M. Bishop, Doss Pratt, Dr. \V. T. Swindle, Marshall \Veaver, J. L. and Don Robinson, 0. H. L. Cunningham, H. S. Burton, John Spikes, Bud Brooks, C. L. Cate, Dennis Do,vney, Uncle Jim Chester, R. E. Anderson, Milton McNabb, R . .J. M. \Vyatt, B. Short, A. S. Johnson, Tom Johnson, the Pattersons, Wil­ lis Hufstedler, and others not remembered at this time. J. R. Acree and J. D. Poynor were the "Village Black­ smithsn of l\llaynard for many years. Mr. Acree and J in1 Lindsey ,vere possibly the best kno,vn "hack line operators" during the days ·when the mail ,vas carried to Pocahont:is by horse-dra,vn vehicles. Among the physicians of the town w·ere Slaughter, Hogan, S\\rindle, McClure, Finney, Carrens, and Loftis. Dr. J. R. Loftis lived here many years before moving to Pocahontas. The names ,vhich are associated ,vith the life of the tOl\'Il of Maynard during the three-quarters of a century of its existence is a roster of the names of the earlv settlers of the ; northeastern part of Randolph county. The to,vn is a w·ideaw·ake high type tow·n of around three hundred people.

[1971 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

MAYNAD'S SCHOOLS

Abbott Institute-Ouachita Academy-High School

The village of Maynard has long been known as a town ,vhich ,vorked for and appreciated it's schools. As is true of the other communities of the county, Maynard's first school ,vas a one-room school ,vith limited advantages. About 1893, Eli Abbott, ,vealth citizen of the to,vn, seeing the need for a school for higher grades, built ,vhat ,vas to become kno,vn as the Abbott Institute. The first school taught here was in 1894, beginning in the fall of that year. Prof. R. L .. Williford ,vas principal and John Q. Pond and L. F. Maynard were assistants. Miss Jessie Lehman (no,v Mrs. Ben A. Brown) taught the primary grades. The school proved highly successful and in a few months young folks ,vere coming to Maynard to attend school from a radius of many miles. Several out-of-the-county pupils at­ tended. · In the fa11 of 1895 Prof. S. 0. Penick from Tennessee can1e to assist Prof. \ Villiford in the upper grades. By 1896 several fro1n l\fissouri were enrolled here. In that year Prof. Johnson, also fro111 Tennessee, came to assist Prof. Williford. His ·wife taught elocution. wirs. Lizzie l\Iaynard ,vas the music teacher. The fall of 1898 found Prof. Tom \V. Camp­ bell and H. \V. Roberts at the head of the school. \Villiam Henry Johnston ,vas a teacher in the grades. Roberts and Campbell also taught in I 899, but Mr. Campbellts health failed and he resigned. At the close of this term of school Prof. Roberts conducted a normal. In the years previous to 1899 the follo,ving had conducted normals here after the regular term had closed, they ,vere Jordon, Gardner and Paisley. \Vhen the fall term began in 1899, Prof. Hugh Bishop and a Prof. Haggard from Tennessee ,vere in charge. \ Vhen school closed for Christmas that year Prof. Haggard

[198] COM1.\1UNITIES did not return to finish his term. Prof. Rorex ,vas also a teacher in the Abbott Institute. Early in 1900 the Baptist church of Arkansas was estab­ lishing schools around over the state, known as "mountain schools." Maynard looked like a good place to establish a school, so they bought the Abbott Institute and opened a school know·n as the Maynard Baptist Academy.

Under this plan and leadership the school continued to grow and the town of Maynard became kno,vn far and wide as one of the best "school towns" of the state. '\Ve remember an advertisement of the school about 1910 which stated, "Maynard Ouachita Academy is located in the foothills of the Ozarks, far away from the death-lurking s·wamps of the South, and the dangers associated with the metropolitan areas of the North and East." For a period of twenty-eight years, from 1900 to 1928, this school flourished. In 1928, the Maynard school district purchased the building and equipment of the Ouachita Acaden1y and after that date the plant ,vas used by the l\Iaynard public school. During the lifetime of the Abbott Institute and the Ouachita l\'Iaynard Academy, many young men and w·omen received their education there. Several hundreds of good citizens, no,v scattered over the nation, owe their success in life to the training lvhich they received in these nvo pioneer seats of learning. l\tfany of these people are no,v holding responsible positions of trust and honor. After the establishment of the various high schools in the towns, the Academy ceased to prove profitable to the Baptist Church, lvhich had established several of these "preparatory" schools around over the state. Due to this fact they offered the l\fa}nard plant to the school district at an attractive price and the latter purchased it.

[1991 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The old Academy building ,vas used as a high and grade school until 1937-38 ,vhen a public ,vorks program ,vas secured and the present ne,v building was erected. The ne,v building is a credit to any tow·n much larger than Maynard. The school now employs ten teachers and has recently annexed several adjoining rural districts and operates buses to transport the pupils from their homes to ~r aynar

NOLAND

The village of Noland is located a short distance north of the site of old Davidsonville, the first town of the county. S01ne of the families still living in this community are descendants of son1e of the people ,vho settled here ,vhen l)avidsonville ,vas a to,vn . ..A.n1ong these fa1nilies are the names of Cox, Hardin, Davis, Sloan, Py land Leathers, Ragan, (;,vin, Slayton, Penn, Level, Van Hoosiers, Sissons, Hufstedlers, Lenunons, Pace, and possibly others ,vhich should be listed here, ,vhich are not available to the author at this time. The actual first settlers here are the ones listed in the article on old Davidsonville, but the list above also includes others ,vho have come to this community at later dates. This community also includes the Cedar Ridge community, and w·hich is made up of the same families. The village of Noland was first known as Cherry Hill. On the old Jim Slayton farm are still to be seen a fe,v scrubby old apple trees which are said to have been brought here during the early days from Tennessee, in a pair of saddle bags.

[2001 C01vll\IUNITIES

B. A. Pyland ,vas the first postmaster at No land. The office is said to be named for his ,vife, Nova Pyland, using the first and last part of her ,vhole name. Some have thought that the name originated ,vith Charles Fen ton ~fercer Noland, early resident of Davidsonville and Bates­ ville, ,vho ,vas at one time U. S. land agent here. The first postoffice ,vas established here about 1890. The first school building was an old log house on Gwin creek. For many years the Clark brothers, J. C. and J. E., ,vere merchants here, until bad health forced them to retire. 1\..fack Hufstedler has been the postmaster many years and is no,v the merchant of the town. Old Scott's Ferry on Black river is at the old Davidson­ ville site, and for many years afforded a crossing from this ancient community to the bottom country around Manson. The Scott family is also an early family here. The old Bum's Ferry is across Spring river between this community and Black Rock, in Lawrence County. On the east side of the Noland community is Black river. On the river was an early boat landing known !ls "Hoover's Landing." A postoffice was established here about 1890. A 1\'Ir. Mercer 1vas the first postmaster and he kept the office in his residence. . This office gave ,vay to the village of l\:fanson ,,·hich came into existence ,vhen the railroad ,vas built from Hoxie to Pocahontas. The name came from a village of the same name in Clinton county, Indiana, ·where a number of settlers in this community had formerly lived. l\frs. \V. J. Matthews was the first pastmaster. In the Noland section of the county ,ve also find the location of one of the county's oldest churches. This is the Hubble Creek church, ,vhich was first established by John ·M. Lemmons and others in 1852, as a local congregation, but did not own the site of its church building until 1868

[201] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

,vhen A. J. and Helen Pace deeded the site to the Church of Christ, on September I of that year. There are three school houses in this community. They are Hubble Creek, Noland and Cedar Ridge. A number of the leading families of Pocahontas at the present time are natives of the Noland community and some. of the best citizens of the county sti11 live in this secuon.

\VATER VALLEY COl\'11\IUNITY

This community is that section of Elevenpoint river valley around what has been Black's Ferry ever since David Black settled here in 1815. The next settler of ,vhich he have actual record ,vas James Taylor Haas ,vho came here not long after Black and settled ,vest of the river when only t,vo tracts of land lV':1S cleared in what is now Water Valley tuwnship. The first postmaster at Water Valley is said to have been D. C. Black, who lived on the old Mattix farm at the time. Later it was moved farther ,vest to the old McMilJen place and D. B. l\'1cMillen became the postmaster. The Haas family is still represented in that section. Uncle .Jim Haas of Ravenden Springs is a son of the James T. Haas named above. The first schoolhouse ,vas built by Newt \Villiams in 1870, with the help of colored hired man, Kit Shockley. The first schoolmaster was Dr. A. G. Henderson, who is still Ii ving at Imboden. The first mail route ran through this community to Kingsville, later called \Valnut Hill, just below the town of Ravenden Springs.

[2021 C 01\:l l\f UNIT JES

\V. l\f. Clark ,vas postmaster about nventy-five years, prior to his death in I 944. l\1rs. De,vard Helms -is- the present postmistress. There are a number of good and substantial families living in this community. The McMillen family is still represented here. One of La,vrence county's pioneer fam­ ilies is represented here in the person of Ray Pickett and family. The Picketts moved here about sixteen years ago from Lawrence county, where foreparents of the family have lived over a century. It is in this community that the proposed \\Tater Valley dam site is located. If built, it ,vill dam up Eleven point river a distance of many miles, and ,vill cover up some of the best farm land in the United States. l\'lillions of dollars in farm revenue ,vill be lost to the county for all time. Since the da,vn of Randolph county·s first settlement, Elevenpoint river has contributed financially to the upbuilding of Randolph county in a n1ajor degree. \Ve hope that if the dam is built that it will bring in the advantages its sponsors claim, to offset this loss.

THE OCONEE CO~IMUNITY

One of the oldest inland communities of Randolph county is the community no,v kno,m as Oconee. Being situated in Dry Creek valley, it is the site of son1e of the first homesteads in Elevenpoint river valley. Among the first families to settle here ,vere the Rices, John \\Tells, Rodney Crawford, the Selbys, Barbers, Ho,vell \Vhite, some of the Mcllroys, some of the Stubblefields, Davis and Jacksons. Ezekiel Rice was one of the first Justices of the Peace in Davidson township, in which this community is located. Isham Alcorn was also an early settler here.

[203] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The first school house is reputed to have been built on the north bank of Dry creek near the present Oconee ford, about 1874. It is possible that an earlier "meeting house" had been built in the community at an earlier date, but nothing definite is kno-wn of this. The house built in 1874 was used both as a school and church until 1894. Near this date both the Baptists and Church of Christ built churches here. Oconee ,vas first known as Riceto,vn. William C. Rice ,vas the first postmaster after the office ,vas established in 1894. He gave it the name Oconee. The following have been among those ,vho have been merchants at this place: H. M. Rice, J. A. Rice, Thomas \Vhite, Harve Boling, Avery Nuckles, Charles Casey, Freeman O,vens, M. -~­ Baker, and Ora Sullenger. Dry Creek, ,vhile not a large stream, flo,vs down out of the dividing brakes benveen Janes Creek and Elevenpoint River and possesses a nice fertile "bottom"' ,vhich ,vas taken up by the early settlers and made into a number of nice farms. The old Crawford house is one of the oldest existing buildings in the county. Near this community were also found the Bellahs, l\foores, Rickmans, Mcl..ains, James, Taylor and other fam­ ilies during the very first days of settlement.

[204] CO.i\f"MUNITIES

PITMAN'S FERRY AND COMMUNITY

The country around the present-day villages of Pitman and Supply in Little Black township, is one of the earlie~t settlements in north Arkansas. As we also have said about the old Fourche de Thomas (Columbia) settlement, the historian ,vho states that Pitman ,vas the first, or next to the first settlements in Randolph county, would have a lot of evidence to support his claim. At this place the old Natchitoches Trail, later known as the old Military road, crossed Current river. A ferry ,vas established here about 1803. William Hix was the first owner of the old ferry and the place is marked on the first maps and records as Hix ferry. The noted German scientist and physician, Dr. Engle­ mann, made a trip from St. Louis to Little Rock in March, 1837. He states in his report that Dr. Peyton R. Pitman Jived here at this ti'me and had been here over twenty-five years at that time. This would make him a resident here in 1812. It is known that William Hix operated the ferry· many years, so it must have been opened not later than 1803. Dr. Englemann states in his notes that, uon March 12, a gloomy rainy day, we passed the boundary of Arkansas. The border is marked by scores hewn into the trees. A quarter of a mile south we crossed the Current river, a beautiful clear stream, which, though larger than the Black, ,vhich we passed two days before, empties into the latter a short distance from here. On the south bank of the Current is situated a beautiful plantation, with a handsome dwelling surrounded by a veranda, many outhouses and extensive fields on both sides of the river. - Dr. Pitman, the owner, has lived here for tlventy-five years."

Jess Cheek and Bernard Rogan laid out a town just south of Pitman in 1820 and called it "Currenton." It did not last and the residents and owners really became a part of Pitman. At one time the village of Pitman was a hustling trading port. Some of the first settlers here ,vere the Kellys,

[205] OLD PITMAN FERRY SITE First Jerry In Arhn,.,a,, opened about 1808 aero,, Current Rir,er. Author'• ,an, Herman Dalton, in picture. CO.Af MUN/TIES

Daniel Ashabranner, Eli Lindsey, John Pierce, Looneys, Berrys, Bells, Tom and .John Gambill, and also William Hix and Dr. Pi~man. The Hanover brotliers, Jews, were among the first merchants. Michael Looney, Erasmus Pit­ man and others, were also early merchants. A plat of the town of Pitman was entered on the deed record of Randolph county in 1853 and showed a to,vn of considerable proportions.. It contained twelve blocks. The names of the streets were, Sunny, Second, Third, Center, Mill and First. Front street was located 99 feet from the river fropt. E. D. Pitman and Michael Looney gave a mortgage to Clark, Renfrew and Co. of St. Louis, in 1853, on the following property: "Situated in the town of Pitman, Arkansas, one steam, saw and grist mill, and distillery, with all fixtures, also the ground upon which this is located, bounded on the north and east by Mill and Second streets, on the south and ,vest by Current river, containing nine acres." Ed,vard McDonald, who represented old Lawrence county in the Territorial (First) Legislature of Arkansas at i\rkansas Post in 1820, lived near Pitman. Joseph J. An­ thony, ,vho ,vas Randolph county's first representative in the State Legislature, and ,vho ,vas murdered in this first term by John \Vilson from Clark county in I 837, w·as also a resident near here. The old town of Pitman ,vas located on the river quite a distance northeast of the present postoffice of Pitman. It ,vas located near the state line and at the edge of ,vhat is no,v Clay county. The first deed record of La\\Tence county sho,vs that James Smith sold to \Villiam Linn his "improve­ ment on Glaze Kenon creek, a branch of Current river," for $100, November 15, 1818. A neigh~r, Alexander Dunin, was a witness to the deal and stated that he kne\\y that Smith had cultivated the place in 1812. This was near Pitman. The first election in Randolph county which was held in 1836, named Dr. P. R. Pitman as co1:1nty judge. Jess Driskill, James P. Ingram and Thomas Hinton ,vere

[2071 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUlv"TY

. WAR BATTLEGROUND OLD PITMAN FERRY CEMETERY AND CIVIL the election officials for Little Black township and the election ,vas held at Pitman. The Cockrum and Pierce families have long been represented in this comn1unity. James Cockrum and Levina Pierce were n1arried December 19, 1822. Henry Cockrun1 ,vas county judge from 1862 to 1868. The Randolph county tax book for the year 1854 only listed seven merchants in the county. There were a lot more than this, but they evidently ,vere overlooked by the assessor. Four of these ,vere in Little Black to,vnship. They ,vere J. W. Cros.sen, H. Frederick, Michael Looney and J. C. Whitesides. Dr. Englemann stated that in 1837 he found several pretty, but old, peach and apple orchards in this section.. Henry Schoolcraft, who passed down the old ~filitary road and who stopped for a,vhile at both Fourche and Pitman, stated that there were many nice improved farms along the road in 1819. \Villiam Hix, the first o,mer of Pitman, evidently invested in the closeby pro­ posed to,vn of Currenton, as the i_-ecords sho,v that on ~larch

[208] COAlA1UlvITIES

I 5, 1821, he sold lot 3, in block 1, and lot 38 in block 7 of Currenton, to \Villiam Rogers of Tennessee. 1V1ount Pleasant Baptist church at Pitman is one of the oldest churches in Arkansas, and possibly is the oldest in continuous existence. It was established in 1826 by Tom and john Gambill, John and William Berry, ,villiam Bell and others ,vhose names are not available. rhe old Antioch Methodist church ,vas organized ~t Pitman in 1850. The organizers are not kno,vn. Some of the early preachers ,vere Philemon \\!right, Larkin F. John­ ston, \V. H. Phipps, W. A. Do-\vning, Jesse Robinson and ,villis H. Hall. This church no longer exists. Here at the old town of Pitman, besides being the oldest ferry in Arkansas is the site of one of the major battles of the Civil ,var in Arkansas, and one of the oldest cemeteries in the state. In the old cemetery ,vhich is no,v abandoned and neg­ lected, lie buried son1e of the leading citizens of early south l\Iissouri and north Arkansas. This old to,vnsite is no,v o,vned by a Mr. Clark and son. A ·previous o,vner, a fe,v years ago built a house in the old cen1etery and it is said that he used monuments fro1n the graves for a foundation. At any rate, very few stones are in order today. l\tlany have fallen. On the face of one, this ,vriter recently read the follo,ving inscription: "Sarah Kel­ ley, ,vife of J. Kelley, born in 1799 and died in 1861." The stone had been erected by a daughter, Susan "Hanauer:· The ~atter spelling ·was either the original J e,vish way of ~pelling "Hanover" or the last "_;\" had been actually an hO" and the "U" ,vas an "N /. making it Hanover instead of Hanauer. The Hanover family ,vere early residents here, and as stated else-iv here in this book, ,vere J e,vs, ,vho operated stores here and later at Lindseyville and finally in Pocahontas.

[209] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

It is a melancholy sight to look across this old cemetery ,vhich ,vas begun before our grandfathers were born, and see ho"r it has been abused by those ,vho thoughtlessly and careless! y ,vrecked and spoiled the last resting place of those ,vho came here during the misty morning hours of the nineteenth century to build a home and civilization for we ,vho live no,v. There is a long sunken trench, plainly seen today which is the grave of many men ,vho died in hattle here, and were later removed to other places. The old battle ground is adjacent to the cemetery and 1nany '•minnie" balls can be picked up today. Do,vn next to the river is an old ·well which was dug during the time the Confederate army ,vas encamped here. The river be­ came polluted after battle and continual occupation of the area and the leaders fearing an epidemic as a result, dug this ,vell as a source of pure drinking ,vater. Possibly son1e day in the future, some descendant of the Kelleys, the Hanovers, the Pitmans or somebody else ,vho lies s1notilderi11g in this old burying ground, ·will come for,vard and restore the spot as best as is possible and erect a 1narble shaft in honor of the legion of unkno,vn, ,vho are sleeping here, forgotten, unhonored and unsung. It is difficult for the historian to record a true and unbroken story of a community like Pitman. The early in1portance of this gateway to th egreat south,vest is recorded in legal documents and old stories, tradition, etc. \Vith the further settlement of the county as a whole and the center of popul~tion shifting to other places, naturally causes a decline in such places of very early importance. There like,vise follo,vs a period of unrecorded time and incidents. Later the place again assumes some importance and there is a gap for the writer to bridge. The very earliest history of Hix's Ferry and Pitman is ,veil kno,vn, but it is leh to the fan1ilies of the early settlers to preserve the history of that

[210] C01\fi\fU.:.VITIES period from about l 850 to I 880, except for the stories Qf the ·wartime sixties. 1\'1any fan1ilies ,vell kno,vn today came into this com­ munity during this ''middle period." The Ruffs, Shemwells, Legates, \Vrights, Halls, Lewis, Reeves, Cunninghams, Jollys, Ingrams, Allens, Dismangs, Taylors, Fowlers, Red­ ,vines, Ha,vkins, Pringles, and many others, have taken up residence in the Pitman community of Little Black township since the days of Hix, Dr. Pitman, Ashabranner and Cheek and Rogan. It is said that this community has produced more physicians and ministers than any other community in north Arkansas. The Ruff, Shemwell, Reeves and Hawkins families have been the merchants the greater portion of the past three­ quartrs of a century, ,vith a sprinkling of the other nam~s along in bet,veen. Another characteristic of this community is, that it has had a large group of Republicans in their political setup, possibly 1nore than any other community in the county. But even ,vith Randolph ,vith a heavy Democratic majority, this community has furnished several county officials during the years since the county ,vas organized.

l2JIJ HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

PALESTINE CHURCH AND THE INGRAM COMMUNITY

The postoffice no,v named Ingram, which is located on the \Vann Springs-Pocahontas road is several miles from the spot ,vhere the first postoffice of that name was located. The first Ingram postoffice ,vas located at the "Dock Ingram Ford'' on l\:Iud creek, ·which is now kno,vn as the Price farm. Here G. H. "Dock" Ingram operated a cotton gin and n1ill during the last quarter of the past century. There was also a still house and other businesses there, in­ cluding a blacksmith shop. Power to operate the machinery came from a dam which was built on the creek. The first postoffice ,vas established in the store of Rufe Roberts and a Mr. Keith, about 1890. Henry Ator operated a store there about this time and the office may have been in his store part of the time. Later Roberts n1oved his store and the postoffice over to his farm soutlnvest of the first location. Here it remained until about 1910, ,vhen he ,vas succeeded by Jeff Morris, w·ho 1noved the office to ·what was generally known as "Henpeck." Peter Ator and Rob l\tlorris ,vere already in business there. This location ,vas about one-half mile south of the presentday Palestine church building. Prior to this, since about 1885, Bart Long operated a store over on the Belview road east of the church. The postoffice remained at the Henpeck location until about 1924 when it ,vas moved to the present location. During this time a number of parties ,vere in business there, among these ,vere Joe Price, J- D. Driskill, \V. E. Tiner, Dock Condict and others at the old location, and several others later at the present Site. The first school house in this community is said to have been about one-fourth mile east of the present home of Ran Shaver. It ,vas an old log house and ,vas used for both

[212] COAlMUNITIES school and church. The next schoolhouse ·was ,vest of this location near the Beasley spring. The first house serve~ from about 1880 until 1892 and the second until a house was built on the present locatio nabout 1900 and called Pales­ tine, the name that had previously been applied to the church building. The first church building was the one referred to above as being the schoolhouse and also a church. This old build­ ing ,vas called "Gooberhull." This ,vas actually the first church that ,vas the forerunner of the presentday Palestine, ho,vever church had been held for mariy yea_rs at homes in the neighborhood. Chief of these was the home of Uncle Isham Mock. He had a large two-story log house and the upper story was used by the neighbors for a church building. The present building was built about 1890 through the efforts of Isham Mock, Jake \Vaddle, the Shaver famili~s and others living nearby. This community has always been made up principally of families whose religious affiliation was with the Church of Christ. The first Mocks, Shavers and others were of that belief and their influence spread. The above is the "modern" history of the Ingram­ Palestine community. Many years before the above places came into existence, there was a postoffice up the creek a short distance from Palestine called "Mud Creek," and ~Iathis Mock was postmaster in 1836. This is probably the first trading place in this section. He had been living there t,\·enty-one years at that tip}e. John Shaver settled in this community in 1823, coming here from Georgia Henry \Vaddle settled there in 1832. The Fletcher and Morris families ,vere early settlers there as ,vere the Davis and Carter families. Levy Fletcher married Elizabeth Shaver in 1823. l\fatthias Mock married Leah Shaver there about

[213] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUiVTY

18 I 7, as this union was the parents of four children before the 1nother died about 1827. He married Margaret Hill Mansker in 1828. Other early families were Condicts, Wal­ laces, Longs, Tiners, Spikes and Shocklees. The census of 1820 gave John Shaver as being over eighty years of age. His son, John Shaver, was appointed by the first court of Randolph county "to serve as road overseer for the Bel­ vie,v road, from Ransom Eldridges on Fourche creek to the state line to Jumping Springs." Just ,vhere the latter place ,vas located is not k_no,vn, but was possibly some,vhere near ,vhere the Military road crossed the old Belview road. l\'lichael Shaver, Minatree Carter and James G. Russell ,vere appointed by this same court to mark out a road from Duck,vorth's Ferry on Current river to this community. The old Ne,v Hope church school and church which is mentioned in connection with the article about \Varm Springs ,vas only a short distance north of this community and \\"as possibly used at an early day as a place of ·worship by the folks ,vho lived in this section as ,~ell as those at \Varm Springs, next community northwest of here. Some of the first Church of Christ preachers of Arkansas lived in this community. Among these were William and Peter Shaver, Ne,vton George, Eld. Nonvood, Parson James and Brother Zera Allen who lived near Supply but who helped establish the church here. Besides the Ingram postoffice, there ,vas another post­ office in this community called Mock. It was established by the late \V. L. (Fayette) Mock and was at the store which he and his father, General Mock, had previously established on Mud creek about a mile north of the first Ingram office. Near here settled Parson Isaac \Vitt, Bias Russell and others soon after the close of the Civil \Var. Some of the folks living in this community are the seventh generation since their forefathers landed in Randolph county.

[214] COAIAIUNITIES

POCAHONTAS

The city of Pocahontas had its beginning not as Poca­ hontas, but as a trading post known as Bettis Bluff. Even before it was called Bettis Bluff, there was a French trading post here.

Spot .:here fir•t house 111as built in Pocahontas.

Tradition tells us that early Frenchmen came down the Mississippi from the nonh and hunted and traded with the Indians, ~ibly as early as 1765. It has even been said that a descendant of one of the ten men left here by De Tonti in 1686, ,vho had evidently married an Indian girl, lived in

(215] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY this section, possibly on the site of Pocahontas. His name may have been De Maux, from ,vhich, in a corruph!d form, the Fourche de l\,las got its name. Anyway, the first traders fQllO',ved the ,vater courses for different reasons, and this being a choice site, with its foot­ hills extending its toes out into the alluvial river bottoms, "forcing Black river to flow around them," possibly afforded the choice site from which to travel out through the forsets. The trader, paddling his canoe up the river may have tied his dugout to a willow tree which gre,v where the limestone ]edge projects out into the river just below the railroad bridge today. On the hillside ,vhere the Pocahontas Lumber Con1pany and McFall's used car lot is now located, may have been the ,vig,vams of the Indians and the cabins of the, French trader. This is possibly the first modern history of Pocahontas. Tradition tells us that the Indians chose the site of Pocahontas for an ancient village because of its natural location being a protection against storms. It _is a fact that during the one hundred and fifty years of its known exist­ ence the to,vn has never been visited by a destructive storm. However, a fe,v years ago, one did dip down as close as a section of the city in the vicinity of Barthel's home and hatchery. The French called Pocahontas Encore de Flueve Noir in their language. But back to Bettis Bluff, ,vhich ,vas named for Ranson1 S. Bettis. Bettis came to this section about 1815 from North Caro­ lina. He is said to have been a pioneer trader and physician. The early records of southeast Missouri show the route of m old mail route from Harrisonville, Illinois by ,vay of St. Genevieve, Hix's Ferry and ''Dock'' Bettis, Davidsonville to Polk Bayou (Batesville) on \Vhite river. This was in operation as early as 1818 and possibly succeeded the old

(216] COMMUNITIES original route "from Monroe, Louisiana, to St. Louis, by ,vay of Davidsonville and Arkansas Post." So ,ve infer fr0tn this that Bettis had a postoffice here at that time. Very little is known of the Bettis family. vVe kno,v that he had one daughter, Cinderella, ,vho married Thomas Stephenson Drelv. It is by this that ,ve ]earn ,vhat we kno,v of this, possibly the first ,vhite family to make the site of Pocahontas their home. The Bettis home lvas located on the hill, near the pres­ ent site of the old Hamil home and the present home of Dr. \V. E. Hamil, which is nearby. This site originally over­ looked the river front and ,vas an ideal spot for a pioneer home. In recent years the front has become the "back" as the two Hamil homes face the ,vest and High,vay 67, ·where­ in the Bettis home faced the east. The o]d family cemetery ,vas also located here. Members of this early family ,vere buried here during the days ,vhen the "to,vn" consisted only of the Bettis home and the trading post and surround­ ing buildings. Many years later the remains ,vere taken up and re-interred in the Masonic cemetery, near the grave of Governor Drew. (These graves were made in the cemetery befote ·Dre,v ,vas re-interred here in 1923) . .A.fter Thomas Dre,v married Cinderella Bettis, Dre,v had been an itinerant peddler ,vho lived in Clark county, they also made their ho1ne in Pocahontas near her father's home for some tin1e. Later Bettis gave his daughter a large tra,.;t of land in Cherokee Bay ,vhere the· to,vn of Biggers no,v stands, and Thomas and Cinderella Dre,v moved to it. Here they Iived several years. \Vhile living in Pocahontas, Drew and Bettis conceived the idea of establishi}!g a real town. They could see the country being opened up, the possibility of the county being cut off from Lawrence and a demand for a ne,v county seat for the ne,v county, if this did happen. They busied themselves about the job of founding a to,vn. \Vhen the

(217] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY county was organized in October, I 835, they had already "started a town." Lots ,vere being advertised for sale and invitations were being sent out to the merchants and other shop keepers to come to the new to,vn, as it ,vas destined to become the "Metropolis of the \Vest." The story has already been told in the Fourche de Thomas article in this book about how the free barbecue and picnic ,vas the trick ,vhich pulled the voters to Poca­ hontas ,vhen election day came around to decide whether Columbia or Pocahontas ,vas to become the county seat of the ne,v county. Bettis and Drew were the sponsors of this proposition and they each donated land and cash to the ne,v town. A street in the to,vn is named for Bettis and that part of the city which is located benveen High,vay 67 and the Fisco railroad at this time ,vas originally the "Dre,v Re­ serve,, or Drew Addition to the town. Thomas 0. Marr ,vas another early settler of the to,vn and ,ve have Marr street and Marr•s creek to remember him by. He built the first courthouse. Lewis De Munn and his brothers, Frenchmen, had al­ ready built a water mill on the creek just south of the to,vn, belo,v ,vhat is now· known as the Cypress Springs, on Mill creek. A few years ago the old cast "armn of the power ,vheel of this old mill was unearthed on the bank of this creek. \Vhat a story this old piece of metal could tell if it could speak! On one side it is marked u~Iade in France:• Just picture the journey this mill machinery must have traveled in that day (about 1820) to come from France to Pocahontas! The first lap of the journey was the long boat ride across the stormy Atlantic, possibly landing in N e,v York and later transferred to a vesseJ going do,vn the coast to Ne,v Orleans. Here it ,vas loaded on a boat for the long slo,v ride up the ~Iississippi to the mouth of v\Thite river; thence up White river to the mouth of Black and from there up Black to Pocahontas. It ,vas probably hauled on a ,vooden

[218] COl1lAlUNITIES

POCAHONTAS' SIX CHURCHES Upper left, St. Paul'• Caiholk; upper right, Church of Cluut; middle left, Free,,,ill Baptut; middle right, Musionary Baptut; la.er left, Met:lwil.ut; lmoer right, Pentecostal.. HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUNTY

,vheeled oxcart from the river across the bottom to the mill site. The location of the old dam can still be seen.

One of the first settlers in the vicinity of Pocahontas ,vas Casper Schmick, ,vho settled t\vo miles do,vn the river from the present toivn. He was one of the active persons in the ,·arious movements ,vhich started the town. On the north side of Pocahontas was George l\Iansker, His family was related to Thomas S. Dre,v, the t,vo fan1ilies coming to Arkansas from adjoining counties of Tennessee. Soon after the establishment of the to,vn of Pocahontas, one of the first families to move here w:1.s ,villiam L. Rice, ,vho had already become the first citizen of the Yillage of \Varm Springs. The first map of the to,vn of Pocahontas, made soon after the to,vn ,vas plotted, sho,-.,·ed the follo,ving as o,vners of son1e of the lots and blocks: \Vhite, Hanover, Looney, Hunter, Rice, David Fine, lVlit­ chell, Black, Imboden. Tho1nas S. Dre,v sold \Villiam Looney the land ,vherc the Sallee handle mill is_ no,v located "in the· fork betlveen l\farr's creek and Black river" in 1846. The first map referred to· above sho,ved that \Villian1 Looney o,vned the whole block on the south side of the old courtsquare, the space fron1 the bank to Johnston·s drug store at present. Hanover brothers at that ti1ne o,vned the block \\·hich ,ras later to be kno,vn as the Biggers Hot•.=l block. The ~!arr and Dre,v families o,vned most of the present site of the town during the period of its establishment. . Blacks moved to Pocahontas from what is now kno,rn as Black'.'s Ferry on Elevenpoint river soon after the town was started. The father of \Villiam, John and Rufe Black settled at that place about 1815.

[220] COAfMUNITIES

John Imboden (for ,vhom the to,vn of Imboden, in Lawrence county ,vas named) ,vas also an early resident of Pocahontas. The list is too long to mention all the first residents of the town. Many of the first families are still represented in the city at the present time. .A list of family histories from all these families ,vould be a historv of the to,vn ,vithin itself, J hnt this is impossible. Any\\ray the to·wn got off to a good start f ro1n the very beginning. The December 26, 1838, edition of the Arkansas Gazette carried the following statement concerning Pocahontas: "The new to,vn of Pocahontas, county seat of Randolph county, is said to have become, ,vithin eighteen months of its exist­ ence, one of the most flourishing places ·within the state. Lots in the to·wn had increased in value from 100 to 500 per cent. The farn1 lands in the county, ,vhich had lately sold for $ l .25 per acre, ,vas no,v much in demand at $20. --rransportation in and out of the to,vn and county is prin­ cipally by stean1boats on Black river and business of every kind is lively ,vith the people saying little about hard tin1es." This ,vas the rosy picture of the first years of Poca­ hontas, as recorded by the state's leading ne,vspaper of the un1e.

The .. Arkansas Gazette also carried an item from its Pocahontas con·espondent in July, 18461' ,\·hich told of the Fourth of July celebration as follo,vs: •• .A.t uvel ve o'clock a procession ,\'·as formed and \\·e marched, preceeded by the Committee on .. Arrangements and a band of music, to a beautiful grove near the spring on the bank of tp.e river, ,\·here ~Ir. C. R. Landers, after a fe,\1' appropriate remarks, read in a clear impressi\'e manner, the Declaration of Independence."

[221] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

1~hus ,ve have a picture of a Fourth of July a century ago here in Pocahontas. The Gazette correspondent from Pocahontas is not kno,vn. The early roads of the county had been opened generally benveen the communities of Davidsonville, Pitman Fen-y and Columbia (Four~he de Thomas). After the rise of Pocahontas, the routes of travel lvere changed. The roads ,vere opened in the direction of Pocahontas, instead of the other places. A branch of the old Military road lvas cut into Pocahontas from the Russell or Foster farm where l\Jack Riggs no,v resides. After a few years the travel came by Pocahontas, even ,vhen headed southwest, which had previously gone through directly to the crossing on Eleven­ point. A road was 6uilt from Pitman direct to Pocahontas ,vhich is no,v the Pocahontas-Maynard road. The old town of Albertha grew up on this road. Robert l\f. Frier, early settler of Madison county, Missouri, opened a stage line, which ran down this road from St. Genevieve, on the 1\ilississippi belo,v St. Louis to Pocahontas, sometime bet,veen 1825 and 1840. He later extended this route to Little Rock. This ,vas after the decline of Davidsonville and routes of travel had changed. He is said to have become a ,vealthy man from his income from this stage line. In the paragraph above ,vhich told of the actual plotting and establishment of the town, we should have mentioned the fact that Drew donated $3,000; Bettis $1,000 and Thomas ~Iarr $200 cash to be used toward the erection of public building, etc., in the ne,v to,vn, provided that it remained the county seat. In the list of first businesses of the t0'\\"11 of Pocahontas ,ve find the names of Hunter and Rayburn, Oakes and Truly as merchants, McCleary, a tanner; William Hubble, harness maker. The county court of 1837 granted Bird M. Simpson the first license issued in Randolph county, "to keep and sell all kinds of groceries, for a tem1 of one year." Simpson

[222] COMMUNITIES

,vas the first county treasurer. At this same term of court John L. Glasscock ,vas given license to sell groceries _a~d all kinds of liquor for one year. He was charged ten dollars for the license. The amount of Simpson's license is not . given. The property tax for the ,vhole county that year ,vas $430.53 and the peddlers and merchants licenses amounted to $170. Green R. Jones ,vas an early merchant of Pocahontas. \Ve ·wish it were possible to tell you just ,vhat years each party began in, or at least the time they were in business here but this is not obtainable. \Villiam Allaire was an architect during the first days of the city and ·we find that at least some of the physicians were Drs. Payne, Doughtitt, Beashoars and Harrison. John and William McDowell ,vere merchants here in 1854. Thomas 0. Marr made a bond to \Vash R. Hunter~ February 6, 1947 to guarantee that he ·would "ferry all of Hunter's employes and all those ,vho had business ,vith Hunter," across the river on Marr's ferry. The bond ,vas $500. By this early date Hunter ,vho became the largest land owner ,vho has lived in Pocahontas, had acquired large holdings and employed several men in the improving of a lot of rough property. He is said to have been the first postmaster. The tax record of 1854 lists a William Evans as a mer­ chant of Pocahontas. He was the only merchant charged ,vith tax in that year from Demun to,vnship. Just ,vhy no others ,vere, is not known. James ~fartin was postmaster at Pocahontas in 1838. The first ferry was located a short distance do,vn the river belo,v the present railroad bridge. This ,vas near the end of Broad,vay street, ,vhere the street ran do,vn the hill to the river. After the old original buildings of the "Bettis

[2231 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Bluff' trading post ,vere abandoned, the next business street in the to,vn ,vas up this street from the ferry and steamboat landing. The name of Hanover is associated with the early history of the town and county. There ,vere three brothers, of Jewish nationality. The eldest ,vas named Lewis. They ,-vere in business first at the old to,vn of Pitman. Later ,ve find them at old Lindseyville ,vhere • the old Doniphan­ Pocahontas road crossed the old Military road. Later they came to Pocahontas. lt is possible that they o,vned stores at more than one location at the same time. They were also large land holders and for many years were prominently identified ,vith the political and business 1ife of the county. Other merchants of Pocahontas in the period from the close of the Civil \Var until about 1900 ,vere, Levi Hecht, R. N. Hamil, R. Nicholas, lsaac Hurst, John P. Black, Jacob Schoonover and many others ,vhose names we do not kno,v. Black's store ,vas Jocated on the present site of the post­ office and ,vas used also as ten1porary quarters for a "part" of the courthouse records and equip1uent around 1870. Hamil had his store in different locations in the tow·n before 1893. In that year he built the building ,vhith is now· the King store. Of the early hotels of the to,vn the St. Charles and the Biggers hotels ,vere possibly the best kno,vn. The old St. Charles was located on the north end of the block no,v occupied by Baltz Hardware and Lewallen Hotel building. Eli Heavener o,vned the Biggers Hotel before it became the property of B. F. Bigger. On date of February 11, I 882, Heavemer sold it to Bigger, together with the land adjacent, ,vhich ,vas lots three and five in block nine and all of block ten. From that date fonvard for a period of forty years it became k.t10,vn far and ,vide as a popular stopping place. A livery stable ,vas nearby and customers of the hotels 1;vho

[2241 COJ\lf MUNITIES had business out of town hired "rigs~ 'to drive out some­ times as far as Poplar Bluff and Nlammoth Spring. When the• large group of European immigrants arrived in Pocahontas in 1880, a number of them secured lodging in the old Heavener Hotel and it ,vas here that many of these folks experienced their first close-up association ,vith the lVestern ,vorld. The Hecht 1-Iotel, located on the block north of the present postoffice building, ,vas also in operation during this period. There have been other hotels through the years, possibly good ones before the ones listed above, and some since the priod described. The first millman other than the De Munn brothers was David Jones, ,vho operated a saw mill on the present site of the Sallee mill. He ,vas here before the Civil ,var and operated many years. He is said to have been a high type citizen ·who did much for the frontier to,vn. Following the period of the ,var other people came to Pocahontas. Among these ,vere several doctors. Among these ,vere Dr. Esselman, Dr. T 01n Hall, Dr. Putna1n, Dr. Silverberg and Dr. ~:leans. Every old to,vn has its ancient burying grounds. Poca­ hontas has hers. Just beyond Mansker creek on the l\tiaynard road is the old cemetery ,vhich is said to have been started during the \Var Between the States. On Catholic Hill near the church is an old cemetery, almost forgotten, ·which was used during the early days. One of the graves in it is that of Col. l\Iarvinl' ,vho ,vas related to the Miller and Crensha,v families. As stated above the first cemetery ,vas near the Bettis home, near the present site of Dr. Hamil's home. --rhere are some graves near the present home of N.. E .. Pace, in the north part of to,vn and it is said that there ,vere several hundred graves of Confederate soldiers buried in the ,v-oods near the old De Munn mill site on ~fill creek

[225] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY south of to,vn. \Ve kno\v little about either of these old cemeteries . ..-rhe Catholic and Masonic cemeteries are the present­ day cemeteries used.. Many of the families of Randolph county are represented in these cemeteries. Little is known of the early schools of the city of Poca­ hontas. It is kno,vn that there ,vas some kind of school for the children of the early to,vn, but just who the teachers ,vere is lost to us. B. J. \Viley and C. C. Elder are supposed to have taught here and other officials, preachers and laymen, did their part in seeing that some educational advantages ,vere of. fered. Around 1880, Prof. John Hogan, whose biography is printed in this book, together ,vith his ,vife, !vliss Eliza, taught in Pocahontas. Their w·ork was in an old lodge hall near the present school building. They ,vere highly educated for their day and did a lot of good in the to,vn and county. .A.nother teacher during this period ,vas l\Irs. Surridge. She taught at her home ,vhich ,vas located on the site of the present hon1e of J. l\1. Dunn. Since that period w·e have seen many talented educators con1e and go. In the chapter about the early churches of the county ·will be found the history of the first churches of Pocahontas. The history of Randolph county's part in the Civil ,var has already been related in this book, and since much of it happened in the vicinity of Pocahontas, there is not much to add. Old Camp Shaver ,vas located on Mill creek south of the to,vn and several thousand men passed through here at different times during the ,var. Among the notables ,vho ,,·ere at Pocahontas for a time during the conflict ,vere

[226] CO i\1 i\-f CJ N l T 1ES

General Hardee, Gen. Hindman, Colonel Robert G. Shaver, General Earl Van Dorn, besides all the local officers. Henry l\f. Stanley, the noted African explorer, joined the Confederate army at Pocahontas in 1862. He served under Col. Shaver and was in the battle of Shiloh. He later be.. came a big game hunter and explorer. Finally returning to England, where he is said to have renounced his American citizenship, married into British royalty and thus spent the rest of his life far from the land of his youth. General Steele of the Federal army occupied Pocahontas a short time toward the last of the ,var. Very little damage ,vas done in this section. After the close of the ,var the country in general saw a period of stagnation and decline. Reconstruction days were hard days. Pocahontas, which had been a hustling frontier to,vn, slo,ved down during this period. There ,vere other reasons besides the aftermath of war. The seventies sa,v the building of the old Iron ~Iountain railroad, ,vhich crossed a corn~r of the county at O'Kean, and soon after tI1is the main line of the Frisco was built up Spring river to the west. Since the river division of the Frisco which now passes Pocahontas was yet unbuilt, the trade naturally turned to the railroads. Steamboating was on the decline. No good roads had been built. This caused Pocahontas to enter a passive state ,vhich she did not a,vaken from until around 1900. Ho·wever, -,vith the coming of the branch line from Hoxie to Pocahontas in the late nineties and the extension to Cape Girardeau in 1902-03, the to,vn started growing. Since that date it has seen a steady improvement. On another page in this history is a photograph of the busine~ houses on the south side of the court square about I 885. The picture is that of a typical inland frontier towu. The only brick. buildings in to,vn at that time ,vas the

[2271 HISTORY OF RA}lDOLPH COUNTY courthouse, ,vhich ,vas completed in 1873, and the Biggers Hotel, ,vhich ,vas built near the same time. Most of the modern improvements have come to the town since 1900. First was the railroad. Then in 1911 a light and po1ver plant was built and electricity replaced the old kerosene street lights, and a mapority of the homes and business places 1vere 1vired for electricity. Ben A. Bro,vn, local abstractor and long-tin1e resident of Pocahontas, has the distinction of being the first indi­ vidual who ever turned on an electric light in the city. The drop and shade ,vhich hangs over the front desk in his office on the south,vest corner of the old court square is the original light ,vhich he turned on in 1911. Next came the water system in 1915. This ,vas one of the greatest advantages any to,vn ever has. The ,vater hauler ,vho supplied the to,vn, those ·who had no wells and cisterns, ,vent out of business, and much illness caused by the use of untreated Black river water subsided. The original old inetal storage tank is still used as an auxiliary storage vessel but a ne,v concrete reservoir ,vas built this year out on the Dal ton road, to replace the old tank. High,vay 67 ,vas built through the to,vn in 1928. Today we are only t,vo and one-half hours from Little Rock, a little over an hour from l\rlemphis, and less than five hours from St. Louis, by highway travel. It ,vould possibly be appropriate to add here that in the not far distant day the above time ,vill be cut at least in half by air travel. The first hard-surfaced streets to be built in Pocahontas, other than gravel, w·a.s in I 928, when Thomasville and High­ ,vay 67 ,vere concreted through to,vn .. In 1940 and 1941 several miles of streets ,vere black-topped.. The Arkansas-~Iissouri Poiver Corporation built a high­ line through this section.. The line ran through Pocahontas.

[2281 C01.\fAf UNITIES

At this time the local power plant was taken over by the corporation and the electric po,ver for the city had .been supplied by the latter concern. During the early days of World \Var II a section of land across the river east of Pocahontas, adjacent to the city limits was taken over by the Federal government for use as an ~uxiliary airfield. There is a possibility that this _may later be used as a municipal airport. Bet,veen this area and the highway bridge there has been opened a ne,v addition to the city and it is being improved rapidly, principally as an industrial addition. Another ad­ dition has been opened just north of the Dalton Addition and is being sold in lots and blocks by A. J. Baltz and

This is the block in Pocahonta• from the Bank of Poca1aonla.ll to Johnston"• Drug Store. others. It is kno,vn as the "Lakeview Addition.H In the north,vest section of the city, Ray Bow·lin has recently opened an addition and is now opening streets and selling lots. J~ S. Decker and \V. T. Crismon have opened up an ad-

[229] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY dition on the ,vest side and others have improved and offered lots for sale in various sections of the city. There has already been a lot of ne,v buildings constructed, but due to the present shortage of materials and restrictions on buildings, the building program is handicapped. There ,vill be at least nvo hundred ne,v residences and around twenty­ five ne,v business buildings of different kinds erected as soon as conditions permit. The Bro,vn Shoe Company of St. Louis is no,v building a $200,000 shoe factory in Pocahontas and other industries are likely to enter the city soon. This is a fair summary of the history of the town of Pocahontas from around 1815, as Bettis Bluff, and from 1835 to the present as Pocahontas: The city has a number of civic organiaztions, among these are the Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club. The City Council is composed of the follo,ving: A. I ... \Vright, mayor; J. M. Dunn, John V. Baltz, Clifford Mc­ Nabb and Edward Promberger, aldermen. The Pocahontas School Board is composed of the fol­ lowing members: Robert P. Sallee, George l\f. Booth, A. F. l\fillion, E. C. Cox and Lawrence Dalton. Plans are under way to build a modern high school building on the ground just north of the present building. The present building ,viii be re-conditioned and used for the low·er grades. Approximately nventy-four teachers ,viii be employed this year. The Catholics maintain a separate school, both high and low·er grades.

[230] COAfi\lUNITIES

RA\7ENDEN SPRINGS

The village of Ravenden Springs is kno,vn throughout north Arkansas as the "Dream To\vn." It is located in the vicinity of one of the oldest settlements in this section of the state. John Janes, a Revolutionary soldier, settled ne:ir here on the creek which bears his name about 1809. The first records of La:\vrence county, of ,vhich this ,vas a part until 1835, mentions the names of many families ,vho still reside in this vicinity. One of the oldest mail routes in Randolph county ran from southeast Missouri "by ,vay of Dry Springs on the state line, Janes store and Batesville." t.ater there gre,v up, just south of the present-day Ravenden Springs, a village called ,va1nut Hi11 and also Kingsville. Both passed out of existence and the "dream to,vn" ca1ne into existence about 1880. About the sa1ne time, or soon after John Janes located here, there came the \Vells, \Vyatts, Davis, and later the Baileys, Guntharps, Hendersons and Deckers, Lands, Pick­ etts, Tanners, and others. The establishment of the to,vn of Ravenden Springs came about from a dream which Rev. ,villiam Bailey, l\fethodist minister, had. He had suffered from a sto1nach ailment for many years. All remedies used had brought no relief. One night he dreamed that there "·as a spring deep do,vn in the canyon on Hairs creek on w·hich he Ii ,·ed, and that he climbed down in the steep canyon ,vall and drank of its water and ,vas cured. He dreamed this three times in succession. The next day he did as he drea1ned he did and continued to drink of this water and ·was soon com­ pletely cured. The story of Rev. Bailey's dream and cure became ,videly kno,vn. It ,vas told to the late Capt. R. D. ,velsh, ,~ho at that time ,vas a conductor on a passenger train of the old Iron Mountain railroad between Little Rock and St. Louis.

[231] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Capt. ,velsh visited the spring and ,vas so impressed that he resigned his position and ,vent to St. Louis where he organized a stock company, returned to the spring and laid out a to,vn and built a forty-room hotel just south of the spring and built steps from the hotel down into the canyon to the spring. Captain \Velsh succeeded in getting a stage line established from the ne-\v town to Walnut Ridge, a distance of about 35 miles. Soon after this the Kansas City, Fort Scott and l\femphis railroad ,vas built up Spring river valley and missed Ravenden Springs six miles. Captain \Velsh succeeded in getting the nearest station on the line na1ned Ravenden .Junction. The mail was carried from Ravenden Springs through \Valnut Hill to Ravenden Junc­ tion. In 1906 a high school ,vas built and in 1907 a bank ,vas established. Only three persons have o,vned the spring and surrounding land. Rev. Bailey obtained the land fron1 the c;overnment and deeded it to Capt. \Velsh, in 1880. ,velsh deeded it to Joe S. Decker in 1919. The follo,ving ,vere early builders of Ravenden Springs: Dr. Lan1bert, J. C. Parnell, Dr. Montgomery, .A.. G. Hender­ son and Bob Blackshear. Bob Blackshear opened the first general store in the to,vn and John Guntharp opened the first drug store. Prof. Dave Hays taught the first school in the to,vn after it ,vas established. Cal ~foffit and Jake Lane ,vere the first black­ sn1iths. George Pace, father of Roy and Troy Pace of Hoxie, ,vas the constable of the to,vn in 1880 and also the first mail can~ier after the postoffice \\·as established. Others ,~·ho haYe figured in the history and progress of Ravenden Springs are: J. B. DuVall, \Vill ~lcK.inley, Charles Shelton, \Vebb and Childs, Capt. ~Iockabee, \V. T. Fry, J. B. Elkins, J. B. Reynolds, John \V. Cruse, Eaves brothers, C. A. Dixon, \V. \V. Rogers, S. L. Davis, C. C. and L. G. Hogan, \V. F. Black,vell, Frank Davis and sons, \Villia1n l\'larriott, and later R. L. Higginbotham and sons, \V. :\.. Davis and sons,

[2321 COM1\fUNITIES

J. J. Eaton and at present l..onnie Smith, 0. B. Rickman, ..\.rthur Stinnett, Cecil Crain and B. J. Simmons. George Shelton and Josh Kellett, aged 88 and 87 re­ spectively, are the two oldest citizens of the Ravenden Springs community. They ,vere residents here ,vhen the tow·n ,vas established. Dr. A. G. Henderson, aged 94, at present, ,vas a resident of this place in 1880, but no,v resides at Imboden. Dr. Henderson is the author of the follo,ving concerning Ravenden Springs and the origin of the name: "The raven den ,vas actually a raven's nest, high up in a hole in one of the immense boulders of the canyon. Tradition tells us that the ravens were building their nests in this place as early as 1820. George and Sam Henderson visited the place in 1860 and the birds ,vere here as they had been for years, but the next year, in 1861, they left and never returned. Just why they left and ·where they ,vent will ahvays remain a mystery. I visited the canyon and inspected the raven den in 1865 and it was an a,ve-inspiring sight, due to the rugged unique grandeur of the place. The "Lone Rock," the "Needle's Eye/' and other parts of the canyon ,vas, and still is, a deep, mighty 1nass of rock. "At the time Rev. Bailey dreamed of, and discovered the spring he ,vas suffering from an arid type of stomach trouble (dyspepsia), more recently called the 'American stomach: People suffering this ,vay, have an active imagination and the psychology of the mind adds to this activity and makes dreams more or less visual. Rev. Bailey· s dream impressed him very much. He drank the ,vater four or five days and his condition sho,ved such an improvement that he sent for me. I ,vas practicing medicine at \Valnut Hill at that time and he ,vanted me to investigate the ,vater. I sent aspecimen of the ,vater to the Health Department at Little Rock. The chemical analysis sholved it to be pure ,vater ,vith a trace of alkali. I then began to investigate the physical properties of the ,vater and found that it is permeated, saturated ,vith

[233] HISTORY OF RA·t,lDOLPH COUNTY free oxygen. It is buoyant, animative, light and volative. Upon these qualities it's healing po,vers depend. I can· give only a few names of those cured by this ,vater. They we1e W. W. Bailey, Bob Blackshear, Clay Sloan, Josh Holder and Dona Bloodworth. There were scores of others. Eighteen 1nonths after the discovery of the spring the population of the to,vn ,vas around 1,500. This ,vas in 1880. In 1893 the management of the spring built a concrete reservoir around the spring.

"The analysis of the medical spring ,vater is given belo,v: " 'On analysis of the water of Ravenden Springs, Ark., ,ve find temperature 52 degrees, specific gravity 1.0012. Total solids per gallon, 20.92 grains composed of- Grammes Grains Grammes Grains Carbonate of Lithia .082 Sulphate of Lime Trace Carbonate of Lime .299 4.61 Soluahle Silica .054 . .83 Carbonate of :\lagnesia .293 4.48 Iodine and Iron, each Trace Chloride of Lime .081 2.19 Organic l\ilatter .21 .86 Chloride of Magnesia .136 2.35 Gas. Carbonic Acid 21.5 cubic in. Chloride of Sodium .1-12 :\tmospheric Air 13.3 cubic in. Sulphate of .-\luminia .153

Respectfully. , Vrights & l\'ferrill, Chen1ists, St. Louis, l\'I isso u ri. · Hin 18i4 there ,vere a number of prosperous farn1ers living in the country around Ravenden Springs. Some of these ,vere: Sol and l\Iich Davis, Elrod Poteet, Kinson Land, J.E. Pickett, John Griffith, John, Henderson and Josh ,vren­ fro, Rufus Bo,ven, George Blood,vorth, l\·I. B. and Jimmy Janes, Frank and Abe Decker, George and Dudley ,-Veils, \Vm. Lomax, John Guntharp, Rhodes and \V. ,v. Bailey, S. \Yoodyard, George Shelton and Josh Holder. "The doctors have contributed much to the progress and permanency of Ravenden Springs. Dr. J. R. Jones came first, in 1881. Then Dr. B. E. Pickett, Dr. H. B. Hull, Dr. Nixon, Dr. Ellis and at present Dr. Alvarez.

(234] ·coMAf UNITIES

''The public school has been a material factor in the progress of the town. The high school building ,vas er.ected in 1907. Prof. ,vatkins was the first principal of this school. "In 1914 County Judge Joe S. Decker ,vent before the Arkansas Legislature and secured the formation of a road improvement district, for the purpose ot building a gravel road from Ravenden Springs -to Ravenden Junction. This '\\Tas the first road improvement district in north .A.rkansas. The road was built in 1915 a11d today stands as a monument to the foresight and business sagicity of Judge Decker. "The churches of the to,vn at present are: Methodist, first built in 1885, present membership 89; Presbyterian, or­ ganized in 1882, present membership 40; Baptist, organized in 1911, membership now 90; the Church of Christ building ,vas built in 1909, present membership 40. The present population of Ravenden Springs is 425, and 259_ of the~e are members of some church. This makes this the most religious to,vn in Randolph county. The to,vn has no mayor, no aldermen. no marshal. The people are religious, peaceful. tranquil, industrious and 1nora1:· Such is the ''ra\'en den" story fron1 the pen of Dr. :\. G. Henderson.

REYNO

The present to,vn of Reyno is an outgrowth of the original to,vn of the name ·which ,vas located nvo miles south,vest of the present to,vn. \Vhen the Frisco railroad ,vas built through this section in 1901, the old to,vn ,vas abandoned and the business houses and 1nost of the resi­ dents moved to the location on the railroad. The site of the present to,v-n was called Es~elwood. at the time. The original to,vn of Reyno ,vas a settlement several years before the Civil \Var. Dennis \V. Reynolds is credited ,vith building the first residence and hotel on the actual site of the to,vn, in l 85i. Stephen C. :\lcCrary built

[235] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COU1VTY the first cotton gin and sa,v mill at the to,vn. The first church ,vas built about 1888 and ,vas actually the old Antioch or Cherokee Bay church that ,vas moved to the to,vn. Among the first preachers ,vere Henry Slavens and Sherrod \Vinning­ ha1n of the old church and the follo,ving in la_ter years: Hiram Kirkpatrick, \V. P. King, F. C. Neely, Bob Carroll, Oscar Cunningham and Elder \Vatson. The first 1nerchants of the to,vn ,vere D. \V. Reynolds, l\fartin Brothers, John P. Dunklin and possibly others. Some of the first families to settle in the vicinity of Old Reyno ,vere Joseph Herron, Ben B

[236] COilf1\tI U,;..V/T JES to,vn ,vas established ,vere D. \V. and A.. l\I. Reynolds, J. L. Jones, Sam Conner, H. L. Sparkman, John \V. Shaver; John Chorice, and several others. The first school board ,vas H. L. Sparkman, John Chorice and \V. C. Glasco. Sparkman ,vas the first postmaster of the ne,v to,vn, and also the la~t one at Old Reyno. Some of the early merchants ,vere .J. l\f. Hawk, D. \V. Reynolds, J. L. Jones, H. L. Sparkman, J. l\f. Smith, Logan Whittington and others, and later H. L. Rich­ ardson, E. G. Richardson, Tezzie Smith, L. P. Smith, John B. Shaver, Bland Brothers, John Lamb, John T. Robinson, and others, some of which are still in business there today. The first school was taught in the old Masonic Hall over J. \V. Shaver's store. The teacher ,vas a Miss Ow·ens. After seven years as an unincorporated community, the to,\i·n ,vas incorporated by Elder John L. Fry, F. \V. Cox, and twenty-four others, August 19, I 908. The first officials of the town ,vere as follows: "\V. C. Glasco, mayor; J. T. Glasco, recorder; John Lamb, John Chorice, H. L. Sparkman, D. W. Reynolds and J. L. Jones as aldermen. The physicians of the to,vn during the first thirty years of its existence ·were Dr. Hill, Dr. Cox, Dr. Roberts, Dr. R. 0. Smith, Dr. J. E. Sn1ith, and possibly others. Other long-time residents of the to,vn, not na1ned above, ,vere C. T. McClure, T. H. Robinson, T. R. Robinson, 1\1 yrtle Ladd, Leota Seymour, J. R. Reynolds, L. P. Smith, ,v. R. Jackson, Ed Jackson, Peter Cockrum, C. T. Poteet, N. P. Simmons, Jesse Redw·ine, F. E. Belford, the Richard­ son family, the Lamb family, J. \V. Franklin, P. H. Bundren, H. D. Parker, and many others, including the ·writer's fan1- ily, ,vhich lived here nventy-tw·o years. The "\\Titer operated a store in Reyno several years and five 1nembers of the family served in various capacities as tow"I1 officials, our father being a member of the to,vn council at the time of his death in 1945. One of our brothers, ..;\eel E., ,vas a teacher in the school there several years.

(237] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Reyno is at present a to,vn of about 350 inhabitants. It ·has three churches, four stores, a four-room grade school and the usual number of other business places and profes­ sional people. It is situated in a good farming section and there are a number of attractive farm homes in the vicinity.

THE SUPPLY CONll\lUNITY

The communities of Supply and Pitman have much in common. Being close together, they have been populated by the same families of people. This causes much of the history of the communities to be the same. As you have already read the names of many of the first settlers in this section, you ,vill see that the above is true. The first store located at ,vhat is no-,v Supply, ,vas opened by \Villiam H. Fo,vler sometime about 1850. He ,vas the great-grandfather of Tom A. Fowler and others no,v living in this community. The family came originally to this sec­ tion from Pike county, Indiana. It is an interesting fa~t that during the almost a century since the first trading post ,vas opened at Supply there has been a merchant of Fo,vlcr natne or blood continually during that time, at this place. Among these have been \Villiam H. Fo,vler, son of the above and \Villiam H. Fo,vler, son of the latter, Dan Fo,vler, Tom A. F o,v ler, Charles Ennis, Jollys, ,viII Allen, Rex Fo,vler and others ,vho ,vere related to the above. Other mer­ chants ,vhich have been in business here are, Ha},vood Halv­ kins, \Villiam .Lljnley, Dismangs, Redw·ines,. Ruffs and others unkno,\·n to the author. Supply ,vas a stagecoach "terminal" on the old l\Iilitary road during the Civil \Var period and even before this time. Stables and an inn ,vas located here for the accommodation of the stage driver and his passengers. An extra team ,vas kept here, ready at all times to replace the tired and worn out team ,vhich came in from the last division of the road.

[238] COi\li\f Ul'-/ITIES

The next station to the north ·was at Ironton, l\lissouri, and to the south, some,vhere near Batesville. l\fany a dusty, tired traveler on the old stage, and hot and ,vomout team drank the cooling ,vater of the old "Fo,vler ,vell," ,vhich is now in the center of the village. The firi,;t telegraph line in the state ran do,vn this old road. ~he first schoolhouse in this community is reputed to have been built by Zera Allen, one mile northwest of Supply about 1840. Mr. Allen, ,vho ,vas the grandfather of "all the Allens in Randolph county," as one of the family stated it, ,vas a minister of the Church of Christ. He is said to have built this house for the purpose of providing a suitable meet­ ing place for church purposes, as ,vell as a school. l11is places this church in the list of the first half dozen churches established in the county. The first Baptist church built in this community ·was located near the present ho1ne of Uncle Sam Stout, south of Supply. It ,vas a United Baptist church and called "Little Vine." This church was later moved to a spot just ,vest of the present Church of Christ building and became a Mission­ ary Baptist church, ,vhich ,vas later moved to the present New· Ho1ne site. The Free \Vill Baptist church at Pleasantvie,v, or Dilbeck, w·as built a fe\v years later. Among the first families l\'hich settled around Supply, other than those named above, ,vere the Crossens, Kno,vltons, Dilbecks, Ballards, Reeves, Taylors, Pringles, \Vinninghams, Pierce, Shemw·ells, Brow·n,. ,va11ace, \'ester, Ainley, Jones, Cockrun1 and many others ,vhose descendants still live in this section. The early marriage records sho,v that James Cockrum married Levina Pierce, Dec. 19, 1822, and Nellie Cockrum married James Jordon, Dec. 28, 1824. From 1822 on, there is recorded many marriages bet,veen members of all the families named above.

[239] HISTORY OF RA,VDOLPH COUNTY

Another old family of this community is the Ingran1 family. James P. Ingram, a Virginian by birth, came to this community in 1824. Here he married Rebecca Mansker, daughter of George Mansker, one of the first settlers of Demun township, April 12, 1825. Ingram ,vas the fourth county judge of Randolph county and an influential man in his day. They were the parents of several children, a num­ ber of which died in childhood. Those which grew to adult­ hood and are remembered by older citizens are G. H., al­ ways known as "Dock;" Lurana, who married \V. P. Green Johnston; J. W., known as "Uncle Blind Bill," and Leddie B., who married Henderson Hatley. The latter coupe were the parents of this author's mother-in-law. This community has been noted since early days as the location of more cotton gins than any community in the county, although in the hill section and not actually in "the land of cotton." Among those who have operated gins in this immediate section were the Duff, Jolly, Johnston, Ing­ ram, Ruff and Allen families. Green Johnston built the second cotton gin in eastern Randolph county. The author remembers, as a small boy, going ·with our father from western Siloam township, to the gin of Uncle Bill Ingram. This gin was located some distance southeast of Supply, and afforded the best cotton market in this section for many years. This community has furnished six county judges since the county was formed. T,venty-nine years of the one hun­ dred and ten years of the county's existence has seen a man from Little Black township in the judge" s office. They ,vere P. R. Pittman, James P. Ingram, Henry Cockrum, Henry Richardson, J. H. Perkins, and Rex Jolly. This community is crossed by nvo of the oldest roads in this section of the state. As has been mentioned a number of times, the old 1\1 ilitary road crosses this section from northeast to southwest and was an important reason for the early settlement of the Supply community. The other

[240] CO.Al1.\lUNITIES road is the old \Vann Springs-Corning road ,vhich crosses the old Military road just south of Supply. This old road w:1s an early route from the hill section of northern Randolph county to the lo,vlands of Clay county and the "bootheel" of southeast Missouri.

SILOAM CHURCH About one and one-half miles southeast of Middlebrook is located one of the oldest Methodist churches in north Arkansas. It is the old Siloam church. Siloam township in ,vhich it is located, ,vas named for the old church. The first church building was erected here in 1845. It ,vas an un­ hewed log building, built without nails. The gables ·were of logs and the roof was made of long boards weighted do,vn ,vith poles. About fifteen years later a he,ved log building twenty-four by eighteen was built and the only nails used in it were made locally in a blacksmith shop. This building served the congregation until about 1884. At this time the local F. and A. M. Lodge and the members of the Methodist church built a t,vo-story building. The second story to be used as a lodge hall and the ground floor as the church. This building stood until June 5, 1915, when a cyclone blew it away. (This w~s the same storm which destroyed the Glaze creek church only a few miles northeast of Siloam) . At the time the latter church was built there developed some opposition to the building of the building because of the fact that the church did not own the land upon ,vhich the house had stood all these years. To remedy this situation Jasper Newton Rapert and his brothers and sisters, as heirs of Daniel M. Rapert, ,vho had entered the land, made a deed for four acres for church and cemetery purposes. The deed was made to C. G . .Johnston, D. ~L Robinson, C. ~f. C. Spencer, \V. P. G. Johnston and Joseph Burton. .A.fter this building ,vas destroyed in I 916, another build­ ing ·was erected on the same site, a single story structure.

[2411 HISTORY OF RA.NDOLPH COUNTY

In the early spring of 1945, another storm ble,v this house off the foundation and across the ground some thirty or forty feet, but the building was not seriously damaged it ·was raised, placed on a substantial foundation and repaired, and is again in good condtion at this time. Those ·who ,vere instrumental in the building of the first church here are among the first settlers in this section. Some of them ,vere: Benjamin and Joseph \Vilson, Gregory Johnston, Carroll Thompson, George Murphy, George Man­ sker, John Chandler, J. D. Cross and Judge J.P. Ingram. Some of those instrumental in the building of the church and lodge hall ,vere, C. G. Johnston, L. F. Johnston, Jesse Robinson, the Ra perts, Spencers, S,vindles, and others. About 1878 a large brush arbor ,vas built just west of the present house, near the spring, and during the summer 1nonths church services ,vere held under it. About 1870 a ce1netery ,vas started here. The first person buried ,vas John Ha·wkins. The cemetery was first fenced ,vith rails, ,vhich ,vere destroyed by fire in a few years and no other fence ,vas built until 1886, when it was enclosed ,vith a ,vire fence. The story goes that one night during the Ci vii \Var a bunch of Federal soldiers surprised the congregation at Siloam church and took several prisoners. Some of these ,vere Daniel Rapert, Daniel Spence, L. F. Johnston and others. \Villiam S,vindle ,vas wounded and several of the younger men ran a,vay and ,vere not captured. L. F. John­ ston w·as _preaching. The Rapert, \Vilson · and Johnston families have had a continued membership in this old church since it ,vas estab­ lished. The Johnston family has furnished this and other churches a number of preachers. Rev. Jesse Robinson, Rev. L. F. Johnston, and Rev. S. L. Johnston, ,vho is still living at this date, ,vere among the older ministers in the family and at the present time, Rev. Sam Pulliam, Rev. J. \V. John-

[242] C01\fi\f UiV ITJES ston, Rev. Liston Johnston, and Elder Calvin Cox are all members of the Johnston family of Randolph county-. Among the first preachers to preach at Siloam ,vere Rev. Robinson, L. F. Johnston, Philemon \Vright, Ankrum Hil­ burn, Calvin Paddy and eaFlier than these ·were possibly Jonathan Wayland, Philip Davis and Eli Lindsey. As these ,vere last named old-time circuit riders were living in this section even before this church was established. The names of very few of the first ministers are available at this time, ,vhicb, if they could be found, ·would add an interesting i tern to the history of this ancient church. As stated in the beginning, the first church at Siloam ,vas also used as a schoolhouse. This ,vas true of n1ost of the earliest church buildings. Just ,vho the early teachers ,vere is not kno,vn. The only name handed do,vn to us is that of Prof. Nimmo, ,vho taught here before the Civil '\Var. He is said to have been a good scribe, a fair reader, but a little-shy on the subject of mathematics. No pupil ·was ever allowed to go beyond the "double rule of three," ·which ,ve no,v call long division. Siloa1n church may be the first l\fethodist church established in the county.

UNION TO\VNSHIP

The most distant point in Randolph county, from Poca­ hontas,. is the north,vest comer of Union to,vnship, yet in business and politics this to,vnship is closer associated \\-ith the affairs of the county seat than many closer communities. The folks in this section have always taken a lot of interest in county politics and related subjects. The first settlers ,vho can1e to this section settled along the banks of upper Janes creek. The country is generally broken but there are a number of good farms along the

[243] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUNTY creek. This section originally ,vas covered ,vith a heavy growth of good timber and all do,vn through the years this has been a leading industry. Another leading industry has been sheep raising. This broken unland is especially ,vell adapted to this animal. Some good cattle are also raised in this section. Just who the first settler of this immediate community ,vas is not known. The first land record of La,vrence county shows that Lot Davis was living here in 1818. On September 24, 1818, Richard Woods sold to Joseph Janes a claim on Janes creek '"adjoining Lot Davis." Stephen F. Austin, later to become the "Father of Texas," signed the document as a lvitness. It is entirely possible that this man for ,vhom the capital city of Texas ·was named, may have been a resident of this community before he ever sa,v the Lone Star state . .J. H. Mcilvain ,vas also a ,vitness, so we infer that he also lived here. Some of the v~ry first settlers of a little later date ,vere the Rogers, Taylor, Bellah, James and English families. These were soon followed by Baileys, Marriotts, Honeycutt, Fry, Wells and other names well known in this section. The Allison, Poteet, \Vyatt, Mcfann and DuBois families have been here a long time too. At one time there were t,vo postoffices in this section. They ,vere Ring and Yadkin. At Yadkin, ,villiam Davis and sons operated a store many years before moving to Raven­ den Springs. The old Ring office was near the present-day school of the same name and I. F. James was one of the merchants of thirty-five years and more ago . .Just ,vho the first merchants were is not known. This section ,vas first supplied ,vith a trading point from Elm Store, ~fammoth Spring and l\tf yrtle, Missouri, in the days before the beginning of the present century. Of course the lo,ver end of the township came to Ravenden Springs or Pocahontas. After the Frisco railroad ,vas built up Spring

(244] COMi\f UNITIES river this 1nade an outlet for this section. In later years, ,vith the coming of the n1otor cars and trucks and ·better roads, the trade ,rhich had been going across the hills to Mammoth Spring on that railroad, desiring to do business in this home county, turned to Pocahontas. There is a pretty good road do,vn the creek to Ravenden Springs and this route is follo,ved by a lot of the people to that town and a]so in coming to Pocahontas. There is another route going east by Taylor's store, ,vhich intersects ,vith the Pocahontas­ E]m Store road at the Dr. Da1ton farm. Most any day, at anytime of the year you ,viii see as many citizens of Union to,vnship in Pocahontas as there are from many other sec­ tions closer in. The churches of this section are a Baptist church at Yadkin and the Church of Christ meets at Ring. The latter congregation meets occasionally at English Bluff. The schools in this township are Cedar Bluff, Cedar Grove, Ring, Campbell (Dial's Creek) and Bluff Springs. The nan1es listed above in this article ·were all residents of Janes creek valley and a fe,v n1ay not ha\'e lived actually in Union but ,vere close.

[2,1 r, I HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

ELM STORE

The village and community of Elm Store is one of the older settlements of the county. The Stubblefield, Job, Hud­ son, Nettles and other families settled here soon after the turn of the past century. Shadrach Nettles and Obediah Hudson settled on the state line near this community in 1812. Other early settlers ,vere the England, Hall, Chester, Bounds, Doran, Ric.e, Johnson, Going, Looney, Bryan, and Brow·n families. The King family also ,vas here during the pioneer days. One of the first roads opened in the county, after the county seat was moved to Pocahontas lvas the old Pocahontas­ Elm Store road. The old Johnson ,vatermill and the old Stubblefield ford on Elevenpoint river in this community, ,vere nvo early landmarks. The Kirkpatrick Brothers were merchants here a half century ago. Just ·who ran the first store is not kno,vn. From Elm Store south, do,vn Elevenpoint river to Birdell, a distance of some thirty n1iles, the valley ,vas at one period (about 1850) o,vned aln1ost entirely by the Looney, Stub­ blefield, \Vells and ~fcllroy families. The three schools in the Elm Store vicinity are Elm Store, Gladesville and Baker, across the river east of the village. There are a number of buildings in this section of the county ,,rhich have been standing around three-quarters of a century. A greater portion of the first names to locate in this community are still represented.

[246] CO.l\11\-fU... VITIES

\VARM SPRINGS

Just what year this village came into actual existence ~ a town or community center is not known. It is possible that there ,vere people living here as early as 1815 or 1820. \Vil­ liam Rice was granted a license to operate a tavern here in 1837. This tavern ,vas a combination hotel, store and dram shop. Rice ,vas one of the associate justices in attend­ ance when the first Randolph county court ,vas held at the home of James G. Russell, April 4, 1836. He ,vas also county treasurer from 1846 to 1852. The story goes that Mr. Rice was a very religious man, and at his home was held the first church services in the town. He had a son who was a bit wayward at times, and "Uncle Billy" would call the boy into his room and after giving him a "good talking to," ,vould punish him and then kneel down and pray. \Vm. L. Ri1..:e married Rebecca lVIansker, February 27, 1842. One of the next store keepers at \Varro Springs ,vas Moses Bailey. Soon after this, about 1860, David Allen, \Villiam Burro,v and a little later, Elijah Dalton ,vere in business here. l\1r. Allen and Elijah Dalton, and others operated cotton gins and sa,v­ tnills here. Later merchants ,vere, lvloses and Je1Ty Bu1To,v, John C. and Rufus Dalton, To111 Thannisch, the Kings, Holts, Stevens and others of later years. The 40-room Dalton Hotel ,vas built in 187 4 by a part­ nership co1nposed of Le,vis Dalton, Dr. Kibler and \V. H. \Vaddle. Prior to this a small hotel, as stated above, had been built, which this one replaced. It was built near the springs and was widely known as a popular stopping place for those ,vho came here to drink the ,vaters of the famous \Vann springs. Bath houses ·were also erected, together with bonrling alleys and other amusements to entertain the visit­ ors and patients. T,vo and one-half acres ,vere fenced and inside this enclosure ,vere sixty springs. Three different kinds of water came from the springs, chalybeate, sulphur and carbonate. An advertisement of the springs in 1890

[247] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY stated that they ,vere "equal to the famous chalybeate \'ichy ,vaters of Europe." After the turn of the century the fame of the springs subsided and ,vere allowed to fall into bad repair and are scarcely discernible today. During the time they were advertised and improved, and before the large hotel burned, many people came from the lowlands of eastern Arkansas to take advantage of the healing qualities of the springs. Dr. G. A. Seal ,vas one of the leading physicians of the to,vn at that time. Other early physicians ,vere, Dr. Stone, Dr. Byrd, Dr. Slaughter and later Dr. Hugh es, Finney, and Carrens. Elijah Dalton, ,vho owned a large farm on Dry creek a few miles northeast of Warm Springs, just over the line in Missouri, moved to \Varm Springs some time in the early "seventies" and became the first postmaster of the to,vn. He ,vas a brother of the writer's grandfather. Grandfather ,vas one of the early blacksmiths of the to,vn, after he moved there from the old home on Fourche and Dry creek. Gran,l­ father' s name was David Dalton, but was ahvays called Tin1. Uncle Elijah ,vas the father of a large family, as also ,vas n1y grandfather. l\frs. \V. A. Holt, ·who still lives at \Varm Springs in the old home of her father, ,vas one of Uncle Elijah's children. Mrs. l\fartha P. Phillips, ,vho resides ,vith a son southeast of Doniphan, l\Iissouri, at the present time, is the eldest child of grandfather David Dalton. She is now eighty-t,vo years of age .. Other early families at \Varm Springs ,vere the ,vooJ. dridge, Holt, Barrett, Flannigan, Creason, Carter \Vrights, Ru~lls, Nettles, Burro\v, Yarbrough, Whittenberg, King, Bailey, and others. John Holt, the grandfather of John R. Holt, no\v living in Pocahontas, settled on the creek belo,v to,vn now kno,vn as the old \Vhittenberg place in 1821, coming here from ,vashington county, Missouri. The first school near \Varro Springs of ,vhich ,ve have any record ,vas old Ne,v Hope, located on ~lud creek, belo,v

[248] COA1MUNITIES the village, near the old l\Iock farm. All the early schools ,vere subscription schools. This kind of school ,vas_ ~up­ ported by a voluntary tuition plan, paid by the pupil directly to the teacher. The late Tho1nas D. l\1ock once told the writer that he taught the first public school in \Vann Springs school district in I 874. C. C. Elder, ,vho ,vas county and circuit clerk of Randolph county under the Confederacy and until 1868, was one of the first teachers at \Varm Springs. ,.rhe wido,v of l\tla jor Surridge ,vas a teacher here about I 880. Next came a Mrs. Jol1nson. Dr. Bird built the first school building in \Varm Springs on the site ,vhere the residence of ~Ir. Heflin now· stands. Soon after this a school building was built by private donation, ,vhich served until the present building was erected. The late \V. L. (Uncle Dock) Holt and a Mr. Baker built the second house. Soon after 1880, Prof. F. E. Tilford and wife came to Warn1 Springs and were employed as teachers and their school became known as Tilford's Academy. This was one of the best and most famous schools of northeast Arkansas during the days before 1900. Tilford' s Academy sa,v the zenith of it's career about 1883. The class of 1883 ,vas n1ade up of 1nany persons living at this time. Among these, living and deceased ,vere, Alice Johnson Pulliam, l\faggie Nettle Baker~ Lively Dalton \Vells, Nora Mcilroy Dalton, Sarah Dalton Spikes, l\Iary Dalton Mcilroy, ~falissie Dalton Holt, Josie Nlcllroy Johnson, Prof. Tilford's daughters, \V.. A .• Holt, John Y. Tilford, Jerry Burro,v, Jim Kenner and John P. Campbell. The ,vriter· s father ,vas a student under Prof. Tilford but ,vas younger than the class named above. This school, ·while possibly not in a class with our present day better class schools, sent out into the ,vorld many men and ,vomen who made their mark in important places and ,vould be a credit to any school. The first church in this vicinity ,vas at old N e,v Hope named above ,vhich ,vas also the first school. .Here church services ,,rere held by all ,vho felt disposed to ,vorship regard-

[2491 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1VTY less of belief or creed. Later it was used principally as a Baptist church before the church was established at \Varm Springs proper. The present church building was erected and a Freewill Baptist church organized in 1885. The late Rev. Demps N. King and Rev. G. A .. Barrett were the organizers. Among the charter members were Mr. and Nlrs. John Holt, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Carner, Pleasant Carter and Mrs. W. A .. Holt. The church is still active and some of the charter members still live nearby. . The first man buried in the cemetery ,vas a soldier ,vho died one night during the Civil War ,vhile a company ,vas encamped on the creek just above town. The soldiers left sometime in the night, and buried the man in a very shallow grave in the sands of the creek. They were Federal soldiers. The next morning an old citizen of the to,vn, Uncle Jim Barrett, and some small boys took the body and re-entered it in the present graveyard. There ,vere no able-bodied men at home. All were away in service. The next person buried there ,vas a colored man ·who, at that time, had been living southeast of tO"'n. Son1e of the earliest ministers to preach here ,vere, Alon10 Burro,v, N. C. Dodson, and others later an1ong ,vho1n ,vere John Yarbrough and Demps King. The to,vn and to,vnship of \Vann Springs had a reputJ.­ tion during the early days as a rough-and-ready place. A fact which ,vas true of most of our early communities. l\lany personal encounters of a pugilistic nature ,vere engaged in during these days. There were a few· murders and a large number of local citizens ,vho sometimes boasted of being the hbest man" in the community. The community has long taken their politics seriously. Several of our county officials came from this section of the county, even from the be­ ginning. But some of this has changed. The town is now· a typical inland trading center and is populated by some of the best and highest type of people in the county. It is a nice, peaceful community. A nice place to live.

[250] Family History

Part F()Ur

FAl\1/LY HISTORY

FA~IILY HISTORIES AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES

The follo,ving pages are devoted to the histories of certain families and individuals ,vho have resided in Randolph county. Those included are by choice of that individual or some member of the family. The author of this history did not say who could or could not b~ included here. A nominal charge w·as made for these articles. No one was denied the privilege of having their family represented. \Ve are happy to state that in the list included here arc to be found the names of some of the finest families ,vhich have lived in the county or state. Our county has profited much by having folks like these live ,vithin her borders. \Ve are sorry that there are a number of families ,vithin our county whose history is not included, ,vhich by reason of past and present prominence in county affairs, should have been. It was their choice that this is the case. This was their perfect right and privilege to take no action in the matter. They are our very good friends and neighbors just the same, but we do feel that they missed a nice opportunity of having their family history recorded for generations of the future to read, including their o,vn children and grandchildren. \Ve ,vould be very sorry indeed, if there should be found one person ,vho desired to have their family history included ,v-ho did not know of this opportunity. But we hardly think this possible. We ran several advertisements in the local paper and sent out a lot of form letters, besides scores of personal letters, informing the public of. our ,vork. In ad­ dition to this, the Star Herald gave our proposition some favorable publicity, of ,vhich ,ve are very grateful. \ Vith all this in mind1 we desire to once more state that the ,vriting of this book, both the general history and the

[253] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY family articles part, ,vas not ,vritten as a money-making proposition. \Ve did it solely to preserve the fast disappearing story of the early days of our home county, ·while we had the time a1~d opportunity.

THE DANIEL THOMAS ATHY FAl\fILY

Daniel Thomas Athy and Sarah Cordelia Redwine were married January 1, 1893. l\fr. Athy ,vas born September- 7, 1870, near Supply. Mrs. Athy ,vas born February 12, 1875, in the same community. Both are living at present. Daniel T. Athy is a son of Harvey C. and Julia Annie Hall .A.thy. Harvey Athy ,vas born October 7, 1846, in Illi­ nois and died February 24, 1930, near Pitman, Arkansas. Julia Hall Athy ,vas born in Illinois February 13, 1950, and died near Pitman, February_ 3, 1901. The father of Harvey Athy ,vas a native of Ireland. He made two trips from the old country to America. The first time he came, he did not like the country and went back across the Atlantic. Later deciding that he liked the new country better than he thought, he again migrated to America and lived the remainder of his life here. Harvey and Julia Hall Athy ,vere married April 7, 1867, and ,vere the parents of the follo,ving children: Mary Eliza­ beth, born September 7, 1868, and died July 10, 1911; Daniel T. (our subject) ; Charles l\·I., born September 18, 1872, died August 8, 1877; Rhoda Cordelia born September 26, 1874, died July 20, 1895; John Alma born February 28, 1877, died October 3, 1938; Edward born February 10, 1879, died February 16, 1902; an4 Laura Tabitha, born July I, 1881, still living. Sarah Cordelia Red,vine Athy is a daughter of Lovelace .Alexander Redwine and Nancy Jane Bearden Redwine, who ,vere married about 1870 ..

[254] FA,\IILY HISTORY

The father of Lovelace Red,vine ,vas Travis Red,vine and his mother ,vas Sally Ann Harrison, a relative of· the nvo presidents, \Villiam Henry and Benjamin Harrison. This coup1e came to this section from Massachusetts, via Kentucky, shortly before the Civil War. The children of Lovelace and Nancy Jane Red,vine were:. Amanda Magdalene, born August 27, 1871, died July 2, 1908; Wil1iam Edmond, born March 9, 1873, still living; Sarah Cordelia (Mrs. Athy) ; Henry Franklin, born March 6, 1877, still living; Thomas Harrison, born March 22, 1880, still living; Iva Jane, born July 27, 1882, still living; Oscar Lee, born June 23, 1884, sti11 Jiving; Amy Myrtle, born April 27, 1888, died July 21, 1889; James C]arence, born February 20, 1892, sti11 living; Ernest Eugene, born 1\farch 12, 1894, still living; Anna Mae, born October 18, 1897, still living. There ,vere 11 children born and nine of these are Jiving today. Lovelace Red,vine ,vas born April 20, 1849, in Kentucky and died October 28, 1937, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. l\f rs. Red­ ,vine ,vas born Decemb~r ,5 1854, in Tennessee and died September 6, 1940, in Atwood, Oklahoma. To the union of Daniel T . .L.\thy and Sarah Cordelia Redwine ,vere born three children: Charles F., born Janu­ ary IO, 1895, stiH living; Ronald R., born July 7, 1900, still living, and Horace Eugene, born June 13, 1906, also living. All ,vere bon1 near Supply, Arkansas. Charles F. married Rosa Stoner of Calico Rock. She died in 1935. They ,vere the parents of one child, Charles F., Jr. After the death of his first ,vife, Charles married Hazel Kirk, daughter of l\Jr. and l\frs. John F. Kirk of Des _,\re. After completing school Charles located in Little Rock, ,vhere he has lived about 30 years. He has been employed in the Democrat Printing and Lithographing Company plant for several years, as a Iinotypist.

[255] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUNTY

Ronald married Berniece Anderson and they are the parents of four children: Thomas, Calvin (who lost his life in service in \Vorld \Var II, in 1943) , Kenneth and Barbra .Jean. The family no,v resides in California. Ronald's ,vife, Berniece Anderson, is a daughter of R. E. and l\fartha Rich­ ardson Anderson, no,v living at Reyno. Horace Eugene married Lora Evans, daughter of \Villia111 R. and Anna Pond Evans of near Maynard. They are the parents of one son, Doyle. Ronald has the distinction of being the first Randolph county citizen to operate a motor freight truck line out of Pocahontas. For several years he ,vas o,vner and operator of the Athy Truck Line benveen Pocahontas and St. Louis and did a heavy volume of business. Eugene is a rural mail carrier, out of l\Iaynard. His route lies east of l\1aynard toward Current River and north Yia Supply and other points. He has been the carrier on this route since its establishment November 2, I 936. The subject of our sketch (Mr. and Mrs. Dan i\thy) lived many years on the old Maynard-Cherokee Bay road, in the edge of Current river bottoms. They reared their family there. i\ fe,v years ago they sold the old home and bought one near Ma}nard, in the hills. This family has long been one of the substantial farnilies of Richardson to""nship. The family church affiliation is ,,-ith the Church of Christ.

[256] FAAllLY HISTORY

DR. JOHN "\VALLACE BRYAN

Dr. John \Vallace Bryan ,vas born in Todd county, Ken­ tucky, December 20, 1826, and died February 27, 1880, in Randolph county, Arkansas. He studied medicine and finished his education in Ken­ tucky. He came to Randolph county in 1853. Prior to coming here he married Isabella Bush, a member of a prominent Kentucky family. She passed away September 3, 1869. July 26, 1871 Dr. Bryan married Jennie Capps, daughter of Nimrod and Synthia Mattix Capps. She died February 20, 1878. The old records of La,vrence county sho,v ,vhere Nimrod Capps and Synthia l\fattix ,vere married by Isham Alcorn, justice of the peace, on June 13, 1830. Capps at one time operated the Bay Mill above Doniphan. The l\tlattix family ",~ere early settlers on lower Spring river. Dr. Bryan was the father of six children. They ,vere, Bush, born March 23, 1857. He married Harriett Fike in 1875; Ben, born 1\-farch 11, 1860. He married Sarah Mc­ Clellan in 1881; \Villiam, born March 11, 1862. He married Lou Stubblefield in 1890; Richard, born in 1864, and died in 1878; l\fary (Mollie), born l\fay 6, 1867. She married John T. Baker in 1884. l\Irs .. Baker recently pas.5ed away; Lelie, born April 14, 1876. She married Gifford Blanchard of l\fissoula, ~Jontana, in 1903. The old family homestead has been in the Bryan family for 93 years. Alvin Bryan of Denver, Colorado, and '\Villard Bryan ,vho lives on the farm have owned it for years, and Wiliard recently bought his brother's interest and is no,v sole o,vner. J. 0. Baker. another grandson of Dr. Bryan, lives on an adjoining fann. The farm on w·hich Dr. Bryan settled is located on the east side of Elevenpoint river, about half way between Dalton and Elm Store, on the old Thomasville road. ·

[257] HISTORY OF RA1.VDOLPH COUNTY

\Vhen Dr. Bryan came here in 1853, he brought men here from Kentucky with him to build the family home. It ,vas a very modem home for that day, with Negro cabins in the rear. He o,vned four slaves, a woman and three men, ,vho operated the farm and helped with the home work. Tobacco barns were built, an ice house ,vas also built for storing ice; a cotton gin for caring for the cotton crop and baling it for shipment, and hogsheads were made and used to ship the tobacco crop to market. A large orchard with many kinds of fruit was planted. He had equipment for the making of furniture and made 1nany nice pieces from native walnut. A solid ,valnut stand tab]e is still in existence in the family. He was a progressive farmer of the day. Dr. Bryan ,vas also kno,vn far and ,vide for his n1edical practice. His territory ,vhich he visited ,vas many miles ,vide. Rough roads and forest trails ,vere his routes of travel from one remote home to another. During the Civil '\Var his life was constantly in danger from attack from jay­ ha,vkers. ,vhen the war broke out, he was one of the physicians ,vho ,vere asked to remain in the community to care for the sick, mostly women and children. He made many calls for ,vhich he received no pay. Besides his work as a progressive farmer and physician, Dr. Bryan also ,vas postmaster of the old Spring Creek office from 1857 until 1866. This office ,vas the forerunner of the present-day Dalton postoffice; ,villiam Dalton moving it from the original location to the present site of Dalton and changing the name to Dalton in 1871. . Dr. Bryan ,vas a J\'Iethodist, being a member of the old New Prospect church ,vhich is no,v called Bakerden. An interesting story concerning Dr. Bryan is handed do,vn to us from Civil \Var days. As was stated above, there ,vas grave danger for a doctor or one ·who possessed money

[258] FAJ\fILY HISTORY and other property, at the hands of the roving bands of jayha·w·kers. The story goes: One evening late, a group of men on horseback, rode up to Dr. Bryan's front gate, ,vhich ,vas more than I 00 feet from the front portico, and asked if they might obtain supper. The doctor, thinking that they were soldiers, in­ vited them to dismount and come in and ,vait until the meal ,vas prepared. The Negro woman, Mrs. Bryan and a widowed woman school teacher, who was boarding with the Bryan family, began to prepare the meal. This school teacher had a I 0-year-old daughter ,vho stayed with her. During the time occupied in the preparation of the meal her mother happened to go into the living room. Here she sa,v the men (,vho turned out to be jayha,vkers) holding Dr. Bryan ,vith a gun pressed to each side of his body, ,vhile the rest searched .the room for 1noney, etc. After finding the money they forced him to accompany them to the front gate. As they ,vent out the little girl, whose name ,vas Tommie Harris, clung to his arm and would not allo,v him to go alone, over the protests of the doctor and other members of the family. They all, including the doctor, thought they meant to kill him, as they knew he would follo-,v them. However, at the gate they released him and ever aftenvards Dr. Bryan contended that the girl saved his life. Dr. Bryan did follow· the men and recovered his horses, w·hich ,vere also taken. They found his money in the small closet under the stainvay beside the fireplace. Dr. Bryan ,vas a loving husband and father, a friend to his neighbors, a valuable citizen of the community and one of the.grand old pioneers of our county. (Contributed by his daughter) .

(259] JOHN STONE CAMPBELL Father of ]amu W., Wil­ liam H., Tom W., and Joseph N. Campbell.

CAMPBELL SISTERS Arlene~ Reland and Roberta,, da.ughlers of Mr. tUUl Mrs. Tom W. Campbell

[260] FAi\flLY HISTORY

THE CAMPBELLS

In 1846 Judge \Villiam Claiborne Campbell moved from Coffee county, Tennessee, to Union county, Illinois. He then had four sons: Thomas Leander, James Sevier, William Claiborne and George \Vashington Campbell. At Anna, Illinois, l\Iarch 1, 184 7, his fifth son, John Stone Campbell, ,vas born. In 1855 Judge Campbell moved to Mountain Grove, l\fissouri, taking with him his three youngest sons and his several daughters, but leaving in Illinois his nvo oldest sons, Thomas and James, then grown. In 1861 Judge Campbell and his three youngest sons, with most of their l\'Iissouri neighbors, joined the Confederate Army, while his two oldest sons, ,vith most of their Illinois neighbors, joined the Union Army. Judge Campbell was killed during the war. In 1866 his youngest son, John Stone Campbell, brought his wido,ved mother and his sisters to Randolph county, ...\rkansas, and settled near ,vhere Birdell now is. His four brothers soon followed and settled in the same neighborhood. There the five brothers-the nvo ,vho had worn the blue and the three ,vho had ,vorn the gray-married, reared big fam­ ilies and died, all of them living to become nonagenarians except the youngest, John, ,vho ,vas dro,vned at the ,:\dams Ford in Elevenpoint river in 1915, at the age of 68. John Stone Campbell, youngest of the five sons of Judge \Villiam Claiborne Campbell, settled on a farm on the ,vest bank of Eleven point between Birdell and Black's Ferry; and there his four sons ,vere born and reared, James \V., \Villiam:. H., Tom W. and Joseph N. Campbell. James \V. Campbell was superintendent of schools at Pocahontas, and at the same time county examiner of Randolph county, from 1904 to 1909. He died in Los Angeles, California, in 1943. William H. Campbell became a doctor and settled in Oklahoma, ,vhere he still lives. Joseph N. Campbell settled at Shreve­ port, Louisiana, ,vhere he ,vas traffic manager for the

[261] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COUNTY

TOM W. CAMPBELL

Louisiana Raihvay - Navigation c:ompany for 1nany years. until his death in 1937. Toin ,v. Cainpbell ·was born September 7, 1874, the day the present constitution of Arkansas ,vas adopted. -He attended Add-Ran College at Thorp Spring, Texas, no,v Texas Christian University, from 1892 to 1894. He then returned to Randolph county, Arkansas, and married Jenny Roberts in I 895. They have three daughters, Arlene, ,vho n1arried \Valter L. Pope and no,v lives in \Vashington, D. C.; Reland, ·who married Henry C. Graham and no,v lives in Little Rock, and Roberta, l\-"ho married Joseph Norbury and also lives in Little Rock. All three of these daughters ,vere born in Randolph county. Tom lV. Campbell was county examiner of Randolph county from 1896 to 1900, and during that time ,vas also president of .A.bbot Institute at l\Iaynard. He represented Randolph county in the State I.Jegislature in 190 I and I 903 and ,vas chief clerk of the

[262] FAMILY HISTORY

MRS. TOM W.. CAMPBELL

Lo,ver House of the Legislature in 1905. He ·was admitted to the bar in 1904 and becan1e i1nmediately Ia,v partner of Clarence H. Henderson. In 1914 he organized the law· finn of Campbell, Pope & Spikes at Pocahontas. In 1917 ~Ir. Campbell ,vas appointed first assistant attorney general of tl1e state and moved to Little Rock, ,vhere he has lived ever since. In 1919 he became general counsel for Arkansas Corporation Commission. From 1919 to 1923 he ,vas a member of the la,v firm of Pace, Campbell & Davis at Little Rock. From 1924 to 1926 he was chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee. In 1925 he served as special asso­ ciate justice of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Since 1925 he has been engaged in the general practice of law· in Little Rock. In 1941 ~1r .. Campbell wrote a dual biography of l\:fatthew Lyon and Andrew Jackson, entitled HT,vo Fighters and Two Finest' published by Pioneer Publishing Company of Little Rock, the first edition appearing in September, 1941, and the second edition in December; 1941.

[263] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

THE DALTON FAMILY

The Dalton family of Randolph county, Arkansas, and Ripley county, Missouri, is descended from one John Dalton who is reputed to have been born in Ireland, and came to the United States about 1760, settling first, ,vith others of the same name, on the present site of Dalton, Georgia. The city ,vas named for his family. From here he entered the Colonial Army and fought in the Revolution. After the close of the war he moved to North Carolina, and in a short time moved up into Virginia. After staying there a ,vhile he removed to Kentucky and then, about 1809 he moved to Madison county, Missouri. Later he moved do,vn into Ripley county, Missouri. Here he spent th~ balance of his life. The place where John Dalton settled about 1812, ,vas at what is now kno,vn as the old "Dalton Mill" ford on the south fork of Fourche Dumas creek in Union township, Ripley county, Missouri, where the old \Varm Springs-Doni­ phan road cros.ses this creek. John Dalton and other men1- bers of his family lie buried out in the 1niddle of the bottom field, north,vest of the ford. John Dalton, ,vhose w·ife·s name ,ve do not kno,v, ,vas the father of eight children. Their names ,vere: ,villia1u, John P. (ahvays called Jack), Elijah, David, Le,vis, Sally, ~faria and Dinah. Of these eight children ,\·e kno,v very little except Elijah, Jack, David and Maria. Elijah married Zillah Gaines, Feb. 9, 1832. They became the parents of seven children, "\Villiam, James, Lewis, Elijah, Zimriah, Zilpha, and Levi. The second wife of Elijah Dalton ,vas Elizabeth Stubble­ field, ,vhom he married in 1859. They had one child, Joseph. The last ·wife of Elijah Dalton ,vas ~largaret Johnson,. ,vhom he married in 1869.

[264] FAJllLY HISTORY

John P. (Jack), ·wife·s name not kno~wn, ,vas the father of IO children. Their na1nes ,vere: Adan1, Ferguson (.called Forg.), Oliver, ·Isham, Elijah, John, Zillah, Sally, Lively and Nancy. ~Iaria man·ied Ji1n Keel. They reared a family near Greenville, l\fo., and one of her sons, .Jack, married l\fartha .Johnston, a daughter of Lewis B. Johnston. David Dalton, son of the original John, ·was born in Kentucky, as ,vere his brothers Jack and Elijah, and came to Ripley county, Missouri, ·with his parents about 1812. He married Priscilla Dennis of Greenville, Missouri, in 1826. He died in 1859 and his wife died in 1857. They were the parents of the follo,ving children: Elijah, David, Priscilla, \vho married John Bond, she and David were twins; Sarah, ,vho married George Matney; Susanne, ,vho married \Vil­ liam Cross; Nancy, ,vho married Harrison Davis, and Ruth, ,vho married James Parker. Of the children of the first Elijah named above, the best kno,vn in this section were William, Lewis, Levi and Joseph. ,villiam, born May 30, 1834, died September 7, 187 8, 1narried Caroline 1fyatt. They '\\·ere the parents of the follow·ing children: Zilpha" ,vho married Thomas D. l\fock; Zillah, who married Jeff Stubbefield; Rufus C.; Zimriah; l\fary Elizabeth, ,vho died in infancy; James L. (the inventor of the Dalton adding machine) ; Sarah P ., ,vho married Ben F. Spikes; Lively A., ,vho married Thomas H. Wells; and Ascenith, ,vho died young. \Villiam ,vas the first post­ n1aster at Dalton, Arkansas. Lew·is Dalton, who married Sarah A. Stubblefield in 1860, was the father of nvo children, Elijah ,vho resided in Pocahontas manv vears, (and ,vho is the father of Mrs. ,J , ' Lucien Sloan, and t,vo sons ~Iack and Le,vis) , and one daughter, _,\.scenith1 ,vho man-ied Dr. J. \V. Dalton.

[265] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Levi Dalton was a resident of Doniphan, Ripley county, many years but later moved to Texas. He also resided at Ponder in the same county a number of years. The youngest son of Elijah Dalton ,vas Joseph, ,vho first man·ied a 1\,f iss Ponder and later married Nora l\.f cllroy (,vho had formerly married James Dalton ,vho died) . He spent his entire life on the old homestead near Ponder, Ripley county, ~fissouri. This is a brief listing of the descendants of Elijah Dalton the son of the original John Dalton. Of the children of David Dalton, w·ho was a son of the original John, named above, there ,vere (already named above) the daughters whose families moved to Texas many years ago, except James Parker's family. T,vo sons of Ruth Dalton Parker are now· living, Harrison at Reyno and David at Success. John died during the Civil \Var. Elijah, ,vho resided at \Varm Springs many years was the father of the follu,ving children, (he married Grace Jane Head): John C., Nancy, ,vho married William T. Stubblefield; James, ,vho married Nora Mcilroy; Mary, who married William T. Mcilroy; Malissa, ,vho married \Villiam A.. Holt, and Rufus and Elijah A. The other son of David (son of the original John) ,vas named David. David married Christiana Everett and they became the parents of four children. They ·were ,villiam, Susuan, 1vho married Byron ~-Iurphy; ~fartha P ., ,vho mar­ ried Noah Phillips,. and Elijah F. (this Elijah Dalton is the father of the ,vriter of this article). Da,·id·s second mar­ riage 1vas to Rachel Young. Their children, ,vho gre,v to adulthood "\Vere Joseph, Ida, lVIaud, M}Ttle, and Fred. Joseph married Dilla Grissom; Ida married Harry Irvine; Maud married Eld. John H. Harper; ~lyrtle married James Gar­ rett and Fred married ~fary Garrett. John P. (Jack) Dalton, son of the original John, named above ,vas the father of IO children" as already stated.. Of

[266] FAP.lILY HISTORY these IO children ,ve have the following information: One of the sons, Ferguson, called "Forg", ,vas the father- of Dr. J. \V. Dalton, ,vho married Ascenith, the daughter of Le,vis Dalton. One of Jack Dalton's daughters married Dr. Green­ ,vood. Her name \\1as Zillah. Another daughter, SalJy, mar­ ried Robert Pacton. Jack Dalton had a son, John, ,vho reared a large family. Three of his sons are no,v living at Patton, Mo. Their names are John, Levi and Albert. The above is a brief description ,vhich touches the high spots of the large Dalton family ,vhich came to Ripley county, Missouri, in 1812. The family is very widely scattered at this date. Different "branches" of the family of the original John Dalton are no,v located in Randolph county, Arkansas, Ripley, and other counties of l\fissouri, in Okla­ homa, Texas and many other states. As stated above, John Dalton settled on Fourche creek in Union township, Ripley county, Missouri. His son Elijah settled farther north on the north fork of this same creek. This farm is still owned by the grandsons. David, another son, settled a few miles south of his father, near the state line on Dry creek, a tributary of Fourche. The other son, named above, John P. "Jack", lived a,vhile in this section but reared his family in the vicinity of Frederickto,vn and Greenville, Missouri, as did his sister, ~faria Keel. Possibly several years were spent by both the latter at each location. The reader ,viii note that there have been manv sons J and daughters of the Dalton family ,vith the same name. This makes it aifficult to present a clear picture of the various branches of the family tree. As is noted there has been Elijahs, Davids, "\Villiams, Zilphias and Johns in almost every individual family for seven generations, to say nothing of the duplications of. James, Le,vis, Joseph, etc. This anicle is a rough summary of the family of the \\Titer. Individual articles are also included in this book ,vhich give further details of certain families ,vithin this

[2671 HISTORY OF RAl'lDOLPH COU1VTY one great family. This is true of the ,vriters" family and others. The articles in this book ,vhich include some member of the Dalton family in their family are: Elijah F. Dalton family; James L. Dalton, inventor; the ,villiam Tipton Stubblefield-Nancy Dalton Stubblefield family; the John Lamb family; the Spikes family; the Marlette family; the \V. L. "Fayette" l\1ock family; the A. F. Rickman family, and the Holt family.

J~.\l\JES I ... D.ALTON-INVENTOR

James L. Dalton ,Nas born near Ponder, Ripley county, l\Iissouri, December 28, l 866, and died in Poplar Bluff, J\Jissouri, .January l 0, 1926. - 1-Ie married Clara B. \Vright of Doniphan, l\Iissouri, sister of the late Thomas and Joseph ,vright, Sr. To this union "~as born the folio-wing children: Charles, ,vho married Ethel Morrison. They had t,vo children, Clara .,\lice and Mary Jeane. Charles died in 1924. Grover \V., ,vho married Francis Burke. They have nvo children, James L. Dalton, Jr., and Richard; Phoebe, ,vho is not married, and l\fary, ,vho married Lincoln Hinrichs. Grover and his sisters live in Poplar Bluff. He is a ,vell kno,vn business man and the state chairman of the Repub­ lican party in ~fissouri at present. The parents of James L. Dalton ,vere \Villiam 1\1. Dalton and l\Iary Caroline l\Iyatt, natives of Ripley county, l\fis­ souri. \Villiam Dalton ,vas born May 30, 1934 and died September 7, 1878. His l\"ife ,vas born October 9, 1938 and died April 12, 1890. William Dalton was a son of Elijah Dalton, ,vho ,vas a son of John Dalton who settled in southern Ripley county, l\fissouri. about 1812. .A. complete list of the Dalton family is included in this book.

[268] FAMILY HISTORY

The brothers and sisters of James L. Dalton (our sub­ ject) were: Zilpha, ,vho married Thomas D. Mock: Zillah who married Jeff Stubblefield; Rufus C., still living at Doniphan, Missouri; Zimriah, who drowned at age 14; l\fary Elizabeth, who also died in infancy; Sarah P ., ,vho married Ben F. Spikes; Lively A., ,vho married Thomas H. \Velis. l\'Irs. Spikes and Mrs. \Veils are living in Pocahontas at present; Ascenith, ,vho died when 11 years of age, and nvo half-sisters, Dora Arnold, ,vho married Ervin Reynolds, and Ida Belle Arnold, who married Andre,v Conner. ~1 rs. Reyn­ olds lives near Elm Store. The life story of James L. Dalton ,vould be appropriate subject matter for a Horatio Alger story. He rose from the position of a practically uneducated back,voods boy to be­ come the owner of the largest department store in the l\Iiddle \Vest and the head of one of the ,vorld's largest business machine manufacturing plants, devoted to the manufacture of the Dalton Adding and Calculating Machine, of ,vhich he ,vas inventor. \Vhen a small child, living ,vith his n1other and other children he ,vas constantly engaged in experin1enting ,vith machinery. His father died ,vhen James L. ,vas 12 years of age. An older member of the family once said that James ,vas "all the time fooling ,vith ,vheels." His mother bought a sewing machine about this time and the boy made an exact copy of it of ,vood, and it ,vould se,v! The year he ,vas 18 he decided to go forth into the w·orld and seek his fortune. \Vith $60 ,vhich he obtained from a bale of cotton ,vhich he grew· in the hills of ,vhat is now· Baker township, Randolph county, he set forth. He first ,vent to St. Louis. Finding no job he ,vent on to Chicago. Finding nothing to his liking he came back to St. Louis ,vhere he obtained a job in the old \Villiam Barr Dry Goods Company at a salary of $5 per ,veek. This ,vas in 1884. :\.fter ,vorking there a short time he came hack to Doniphan,

[269] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

,vhere he went to ,vork in a hard,vare store of his future ·wife's relatives at $12 per month and board. He ,vas soon made a partner and later became sole owner. He built this business up to lvhere he saw greater possibilities in the larger to,vn of Poplar Bluff, to ,vhich to\vn he moved. It grew to be the largest department store in the whole Mid,vest and one year the retail sales reached $765,000. All the time he ,vas building this great store business he ,vas still thinking about Hwheels." · Observing that the add­ ing machines of that period ,vere a complicated arrangement of keys and other cumbersome contraptions, James L. Dalton there decided that he ,vould build a better one! The first machine was perfected in the year 1901. It took a lot of nerve, perseverance and capital to put the deal over. l\tlr. Dalton turned the store over to his son and others and devoted his entire time to the adding machine. He once stated that during this ti1ne he ,vas "president, general man­ ager, factory n1anager, timekeeper, paymaster, bookkeeper and chief salesman." The first factory ·was in a side roo1n and l\Ir. Dalton said that during that period the three or four mechanics ,vho built the first machines watched him leave on a sales trip ,vith great interest, because, as he said, "if I didn~t make a sale they didn't get paid.H But after a fe,v years, aided ,vith the capital of friends, and a refusal to become discouraged and quit, succ~ came his ,vay. The machine began to sell on the market and 200 sales offices ,vere ultimately opened up in different parts of the ,vorld, and sales ran up to $1,000,000 worth a month. The job had been done. Besides being a merchant of great success and prominence and an internationally known inventor and manufacturer, he became a brilliant speaker and writer. Hearst's Magazine published a feature article on the life of James L. Dalton many years ago, in which the feature ,vriter stated that,

[270] FA1.\!ILY HISTORY

'"Although he was never in his life taught to 'parse· a sen­ tence, he is no,v a brilliant speaker and ,vriter, the recipient of requests from leading chambers of commerce and other civic clubs throughout the country to address their conven­ tions and banquets."

Mr. Dalton was identified ,vith many civic and fraternal bodies and always took great interest in the affairs of business and the state. At the age of 22, ,vhile living in Doniphan he ,,·as elected lVlaster of the Masonic Lodge. At 26 he ,vas District Deputy Grand Master of the State of Missouri. He was the first Republican ever elected to the State Legislature of Missouri from Ripley county.

James L. Dalton, although not a highly educated man, had a fair education. Some feature writers ,vho ",vrote up" his life after he became prominent, seemed to desire to leave the impression that he ,vas unlearned. This ,vas not true. He attended tht country schools near his home. So1ne of these schools ,vere at Bakerden, \Varm Springs, Doniphan and at Dalton. He also attended the old La Crosse Institute at La Crosse in Izard county. He and his brothers and sisters would cross Elevenpoint river in a "dugout" canoe ,vhen they attended school at Dalton. His teacher at Baker­ den was Prof. "\Villiam Thomas. Later l\Ir. Dalton taught school for a time at Dalton, Bakerden and seven months at Elm Store~ assisted by his sister, Neeta. All this was before he went forth into the outside ,vorld to make a name for himself and to bring honor not only to himself but his homeland as well. A photograph of the Dalton .-\dding ~fachine Factory ,vas carried in a number of national ,veeklies during the days ,vhen ~Ir. Dalton ,vas actively at its head in Poplar Bluff, and the caption under the picture stated "This is the in-

[2711 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1VTY dustry ,vhich has carried the name of Poplar Bluff around the Globe." Such is a condensed story of the life of a typical Ozark mountain lad who hailed from that part of our great nation known as Randolph county, Arkansas and Ripley county, 1\1issouri, to become the best know·n citizen ,vho has ever cal led this section hon1e. James L. Dalton ,vas not only a great business man, he ,vas also a great friend to n1any and a neighbor to a11 ,vho lived near him. He was proud of his home, his family and his native country. In 1913 he came back to the land of his childhood and staged a big family reunion, to be held at the_ home of his sister, Mrs. Thomas H. Wells, near the town of Dalton. Here assembled at the invitation of James L. Dalton, a total of 257 Daltons who represented his kinsmen in this section. The invitation cards which he sent out stated that '\.\.11 Daltons, Daltons' relatives and prospective Daltons were invited to attend." Those nvo days, July 2 and 3, in the year 1913 ,vere happy days in the memory of this fa1nily. (The author of this history re1ne111bers ,vith pleasure this occasion ,vhich we attended, together ,vith our grand­ father, grandmother, f2ther, mother and other me1nbers of our family. I was then 12 years of age and took my first auto ride there in a "shiny 1912 model Ford" ,vhich be­ longed to Joseph \Vright of Doniphan, the only automobile there those tlvo days!)

[272] FAMILY HISTORY

THE ELIJAH F. D ...\.LTON FAMILY

(The Author·s Own Story of His Father's Family) Elijah F. Dalton was born December 14, 1871, on the bank of Fourche Dumas creek, in Union township, Ripley county, Missouri. The site of his birth later became to be kno,vn as "Liebig," on account of a postoffice being estab­ lished there, years later by his cousin Joseph Dalton. The name Liebig ,vas after a German family of that name ,vhich lived nearby. Elijah F. Dalton departed this life, November 4, 1945, at his home in Reyno, Randolph county, Arkansas. Burial ,vas in the Masonic cemetery in Pocahontas. He was the author's father. The middle initial of his name stood for "eithei" Francis of Franklin," to use his own ,vords. His mother died a fe,v days after my father's birth and the story goes that grandfather preferred Franklin and she preferred Francis, so upon her death the question ,vas never settled. ~Iy father ,vas a great-grandson of the original John Dalton, ,vho is listed in the special article concerning the Dalton family. A son of John's, David by name, ,vas the father of another David ·who ,vas my father·s father. The last David ,vas always called "'Tim.'' ~Iany older folks re­ membered "Uncle Tim'' ,vell. This original John was the "Dadq.y of 'em all," ,vhen it came to. the Dalton family of Missouri and Arkansas. One of his sons, Elijah, ,vas the father of the late Le,vis, \Vil­ liam, Levi, and other children of that branch of the family. :\nother son, Jack (his actual name ,vas John P.) ,vas the father of the branch of the family ,vhich still lives in upper southeast Alissouri. Dr. J. ,v. Dalton, ,vho married As­ cenith, Le,vis Dalton's daughter, ,vas of this family.

[2731 MR. AND MRS. ELIJAH F. DALTON The Author's Parents FAAfILY HISTORY

Another son of the first John ,vas David, the man referred to above, as the father of the second David, 1ny latber·s father. For a more complete list of the various members of the Dalton family, we refere you to the special article. Anyway, my great-grandfather, David Dalton, married Priscilla Dennis of Greenville, Missouri, in 1826, and opened up a farm about five miles south of his father. This far1n was on Dry creek, a tributary to Fourche, and is located one mile east of the old Burr,. Missouri, postoffice, and about four miles northwest of Middlebrook, Arkansas. Here they reared a family. Their names were as follows: Elijah, who married Nancy Jane Head; Sarah, who married George Matney; Susanna, who married William Cross; John, who died in the Civil War; Nancy, who married Harrison Davis; Ruth, who married James Parker; Priscilla, who married John Bond, and David, my grandfather, ,vho ,vas called "Tim." He died in 1859, his ,vife in 1857. David and Priscilla Dennis Dalton lie buried in the old cemetery, ,vhich is located one mile east of the Johnton Chapel Church, in southern Ripley county, Missouri. This old cemetery is on the old Isaac To,vell, or Bollenbacher farm. This farn1 ,vas owned by my father during the years 1921-23. David Daniel Dalton (Tim) ,vas born on the old home place on Dry creek, March 22, 1844. He died in September, 1923, and was buried in the Dalton cemetery on the farm \\·here he was born, alongside his brother, Elijah, and other members of the family. He was first married to Christiana Everett about 1862, during the war. To this union was born \Villiam, ,vho ,v-as killed in a runaway accident on the farm of Eli Creason near Warm Springs, during young manhood; Martha (Aunt Molly), who married Noah Phillips. She is still living with a son east_of Doniphan, aged 83; Susan, ,vho married Byron ~1urphy. She died in 1923; and Elijah, my father.

[275] HISTORY OF RA1VDOLPH COU1VTY

Christiana Everett Dalton, my father's mother, died a few days after my father's birth. She ,vas a member of the Shelton, \Vitt and Johnson families, who came to this section from eastern Tennessee. Her maternal grandfather, Jeremiah Shelton, ,vas a Primitive Baptist preacher of this state during the early days. We might add here that the "original John Dalton" referred to first in this article was also a preacher of this church before coming to this section about 1812. The ,vife of "Parson \Vitt," mentioned in this history ,vas also a granddaughter of Jeremiah Shelton. After the death of grandfather's first wife, he married Rachel Young. To this union ,vas born the following chil­ dren who are living today: Ida, who married Harry Irving, now of Blountstown, Florida; Joseph, who married Dilla Grissom, now living ,vest of Middlebrook; Maud, ,vho mar­ ried Eld. John H. Harper, now living at Datto, Clay county; l\ilyrtle, ,vho married James Garrett, no,v living at Augusta, ~-\rkansas; and Fred, ,vho married Mary Garrett, now living at Corning. Grandfather, ahvays called "Uncle Tim" in later years, ,vas a very versatile character. He was knolvn principally as a blacksmith, but it was said of him that he could do any­ thing "from pulling teeth to building a chimney" ,vith horse­ shoeing thro,vn in. He was a jolly fellow ,vho had many friends. He was a gTeat practical joker. He ·was a soldier in the Army of the Confederacy, being wounded at the Battle of Prairie Grove. He was shot in the knee and carried the bullet, imbedded there the rest of his life. He spent most of his life in the communities adjoining the place of his birth, but made tlvo trips to Texas w'ith the vie,v of making his home, but did not stay. On his first trip, when my father ,vas a small lad, the family ,vagon train camped on the present site of Fon \Vorth, Texas, then a small back·woods uco,v to,vn." _;\ resident of the to,vn o,vned 40 acres, ,vhich is now· in the main part of

[276] FA1\fILY HISTORY the city. He offered to trade the 40 to grandfather for his team, which ,vas a pair of small horses, ,vorth at that lime possibly $150. This ,vas 65 years ago. The property no,v ts worth several million dollars. The first home of grandfather after he ,vas married ,vas in the vicinity of his birth, but later he lived at ,varm Springs, at the Dock Ingram Mill and at l\fiddlebrook. After he r~ared his family he lived at Biggers a while, just before the two youngest children married. Following this he moved to the vicinity of Brakebill, west of Middlebrook, back near ,vhere he ,vas born, and spent the remainder of his day$. Elijah F. Dalton, my father, married Della Florence l\larlette, daughter of David J. and Sarah Spore l\1arlette, November I 0, 1897. They ,vere married at Poynor, l\1issouri, by the late Uncle John Cole, who was a justice of the peace at that time. Their first home ,vas on the farm just east of the old Eldridge Ford on Fourche, near the state line, kno·wn for years as the "Nora Dalton farm." This farm ·was the home of C. Ja1nes Dalton (son of my father's Uncle Elijah Dalton), and his ·wife Nora Mcllroy Dalton, until his death, a few· years after their marriage. His death was caused by his accidentally cutting his arm. After his death his wido,v married Joseph Dal ton, son of another Elijah Dal ton, an uncle of the other Elijah named here, and my grandfather. She is still living on the old ho1nestead, east of Ponder. Before ~·[rs. Dalton married Joseph, my father and 1nother lived with her, on the place named above. Here my sister, Effie ~fay, was born April 11, 1899. Effie now· lives in St. Louis. She married Daniel 11. Griggs, a native of Illinois. They have nvo sons, both married, Paul D., who married Loretta Shellharvey of Troy, Missouri, and Jay Lee, ,vho married Ida 11ay Simhauser in St. Louis. Jay Lee is in the Army, sationed in Colorado at the present time. He is an X-ray photographic technician. Paul D. was recently

[2771 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY discharged from three years' service in the Navy in the Pacific area. The writer, David La,vrence Dalton, is the second child of my father and mother. I ,vas born January 27, 1901, on the fann ,vhere Claud Phipps and family no,v reside. I first sa,v the light of day out across the bottom field to,vard Fourche Dumas river, just above the old mill dam at the Phipps Mill, just up the river a short distance above the steel bridge on the Middlebrook-,Varm Springs road. (It ,vas then the old ,varm Springs-Bridgeport road) . I ,vas named "David" in honor of both of my grandfathers, but I have ahvays been called Lawrence. The name Lawrence seems to be a favorite ,vith my people. I have three cousins of the same name, two Lawrence Stubblefields _and another La,vrence Dalton. The latter lives at Carthage, l\tlissouri. ~Iy brother next to me, Clarence H., ,vas born at what it no,v the Ben Choate farm, just across the river and a little belo,v ,vhere our sister was born. My father bought this farm about five years after he and our mother ,vere married. After living there a fe,v years he sold it to the late W. L .. Johnson and moved farther nonh,vest, ,vhere he bought my grandfather's old home place ,vhich adjoined Uncle Elijah's old farm ,vhere both he and grandfather were born and are now at rest. While our family lived on the farm ,vhich father sold to Uncle \Vill Johnson, I started to school. at the old High Point schoolhouse, which ,vas nearby. This ,vas in July, 1906 .. ~frs .. Joe Perry Spikes, now my neighbor in Pocahontas, ,vas mv first teacher.. We called her "~Iiss Dora.0 She ,vas I then ~fiss Dora King. After attending school a few days I became very ill. I had a long spell of some kind of fever, ,vhich came near taking me away. ~fy doctors were the late Dr. ~-f oses \Vilson, the late Dr. \Villiam T. S,vindle and Dr. J. R. Loftist ,vho is also my neighbor here in Pocahontas at this time. I o,ve my life to their untiring efforts in treating

[2781 FAMILY HISTORY me, to make me ,veil, together, of course, ,vith the loving care and long hours of ,vatchful ,vaiting on me, by my.father and mother. After moving to our ne,v home, four more sons ,vere born. The first one ,vas Acel E., who is no,v living in St. Louis, ,vhere he is in the employ of the Federal Government as assistant lay inspector, a Civil Service job. He ,vas formerly a Randolph county teacher, for a period of 16 years. Acel married Tharon Bundren, formerly of Biggers. They have t,vo children, Jean and Wayne. Clarence, the second son named above, has been in the mercantile business for several years, since he quit farming about 1933. He married Hester \Vil1iams, a native of Illinois. They have one child, Donald. The fourth son of my parents is \Villiam Roscoe, ,vho married Adele Go-\ven, of Datto, Clay county. They live in l\femphis ,vhere he is also a Federal lay inspector, under Civil Service. He has been in this ,vork 12 years. They have one child, Dickie. The fifth son is Kermit E., ,vho resides in Pocahontas, ,vhere he is a salesman in the local Firestone Store. He mar­ ried Mary Poteet. They have t,vo children, Charlotte and Frankie. The Poteet family were early residents of Raven­ den Springs. The baby son, Elijah Glenn, married Aldena Jackson of Reyno. They reside in Pocahontas, vihere they are em­ ployed in the Brown Shoe Company's plant. He and our mother recently completed them a nice home. ~lother lives with Glenn and his ·wife. An interesting fact concerning our family is that of the seven children born to my father and mother, all lived to be grown and married, and are alive today, and all seven ,vere born«in Siloam to,vnship and the late Dr.. \Villiam T .. Swindle ,vas the attending physician ,vhen each ,vas born ..

[279] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Father ,vas school director at old High Point many years. He ,vas also director at Brakebill school. He was one of the leading men of the township many years. In 1918 lve moved over in the edge of Ripley county, lVIissouri, to the old Burr postoffice, where we lived three years and father ,vas a merchant and postmaster. He ,vas the last postmaster of the office when the Warm Springs rural route No. I replaced the office. In 192 I father bought a ·large farm on upper Fourche, refe1Ted to before, kno,vn as the old Isaac Towell or Bollen­ bacher farm. Our story was the same as that of countless thousands of that period. We bought high and when the depression came, ,ve sold cheap. 1924 found our family Jocated in Reyno. Here my father and I bought property and for over 20 years this was my father and mother's home, except for one year. Father passed a,vay last November 4, in his seventy-fourth year. He followed farming and livestock raising, with some merchandising along ,vith it part of the time. He was always interested in the things which make a better community. He ,vas firm in his opinions and decisions but ,vas generally on the right side. He ,vas ahvays interested in the places he lived. He ,vas a member of the Reyno To,vn Council at the time of his death. Father and mother reared a large family. The going ,vas not ahvays easy. But father ahvays managed to carry on, to use his o,vn expression, in a ,vay "so that he could look any man in the face." He often said he ·wanted to live "above board." His ·word ,vas his bond. He often told ,ve children to never promise anything we couldn't do. During the dark days of the depression when it looked as if too many of our population, when tough sailing came their ·way, weakened to the point where they lost their self-respect, father ,vould say that he uhad rather live on bread and ,vater than betray those ,vho trusted him," and he never cfid.

[280] FAi\tIILY HISTORY

He abhored sham and make-believe. He always said he be­ lieved in "everyday religion." He had lots of friends. As his son, I make these statements for the future gene­ rations to read, ,vith humble pride and in a spirit of dedica­ tion to him ,vho did his job ,vell, as he passed through this uneven journey of life. May he rest in peace. A photograph of father and mother is in this book. And no,v just a ,vord about the author himself. Above ,ve have told you briefly about the rest of the family. No,v I ,vill begin where I left off farther back in this story, where I had started to school and became very sick. Later on aftel" my recovery, I attended the old High Point school, (there is a short article about this old school elsc,vhere in this book) several years and later ,vent over to Reyno, after ,vinning a scholarship in spelling at the county fair. I ,vas over there ,vith a case of 1neasles during the big sno,v in December, 1917. I ,vas boarding ,vith Ben and Effie "\Vilson, ·who lived in the residence which is no-w the home of T. R. Roberson. Later I attended business college at the old Springfield Business College in Springfield, Missouri. Coming back, I began ,vorking in the store of Ben H. Ed·wards, at Ponder, Missouri. I had previously had some experience in father's store and in the store and postoffice of my uncle Noah Phillips, at old Burr. Please let me add here that our parents ,vere strong on education. Father used to tell us, "Children I ,vant you to get an education, for that is something that no one can take away from you." \Ve all secured fair educations, four of the family completing high school and two attended business col1ege. I have always had an inclination toward the mercantile business. I have spent 23 years of my life in that work. I have made a living and maybe a fe,v dollars extra at the job.

[281] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1VTY

I have also made·a lot of friends and possibly a few enemies at the game, but I do ·want to make the statement which is so often disputed, that a man can operate a store and make money and yet deal hones ti y ,vith his fellow men. I know that some do not. But it CAN be done. After a long service in the store at Ponder, Biggers, Reyno and Pocahontas, 1943 found me in bad health. I sold my store ·which was in the building ,vhere the Bank of Poca­ hontas is no,v located, and moved out to the edge of town ,vhere I "took it easy a year and ran for office." January, 1945, found me back in Pocahontas, located in a modest little home, surrounded ,vith flowers and a big vegetable garden, at the north end of \Vitt Street. January I, 1945, I entered the Randolph county treasurer's office, ,vhich I still occupy. I have no opponent for my second term, and it looks like I may be here another two years, if the Lord ,r i Ils. 1\1 y family consists of my ,vife and 17-year-old son, Her­ man. My ,vife likes the store business and so does 1ny son. They plan a big modem store again "some of these days." l\Iy ,vife ,vas Irene Lamb, daughter of Mrs. Josie Lamb of Biggers, ,vhom I married at Re}no in 1927. Her paternal grandparents ,vere Henderson and Leddie B. Ingram Hatley. Her father ,vas the late John H. Lamb. Both family his­ tories appear else,vhere in this book. This is the rambling story of the author of this book and his family, through six generations, "This i\ugust 14, 1946."

[282] FAAflLY HISTORY

JOE SHELBY DECKER

The subject of this sketch is a grandson of John Jefferson Decker, who was born in Illinois but who moved to Fulton county, Arkansas, about 1850. He settled on South Fork, about three miles northeast of Salem. He had five sons born in Illinois. Prior to coming to Arkansas he had spent a short time in Kentucky, where two more sons were born. The maternal grandfather was Kinson Land, who was born and reared in Georgia. The family left Georgia and located in Alabama a few years before the Civil War. Two sons of Kinson Land joined the Confederate Army in Ala­ bama and were both killed in battle. Mary Land, a daughter of Kinson Land, married Abe Decker to become the mother of our subject. After the close of the war Mr. Land and his brother-in­ la,v, John Bailey moved to Randolph county. Bailey settled on a farm on Janes creek near where Ravenden Springs no,v stands. Land settled on a farm three miles southeast of Bailey. William W. Bailey, a married son of John Bailey, settled on the site of Ravenden Springs. It ,vas he who dreamed of the healing waters of the springs, the story of which is related in the article about Ravenden Springs. John Bailey's wife was a sister of Kinson Land . .John Jefferson Decker died soon after the family landed in Fulton county, Arkansas. His wife and the seven sons remained on the farm in that county until the boys were all grown. T,vo of them married in that county. Later the family scattered, some going to different parts of the country. One son, George, joined the Confederate Army in Ten­ nessee and was killed at the Battle of Shiloh. Abe, the father of our subject, and his brothers John, Frank and Jim, joined the Confederate Army at Salem. Joe S. Decker relates that he has met several ex-Con­ federate soldiers who served ,vith his father in the army,

(283] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH <..;UUNTY

JOE S. DECKER Only Randolph County- citi=en · lflho has held /our commi~­ ~ons as county judge. It x,as largely through the e//orb of Judge Decker that the modern fireproof courthorue a,as built in 1940. most of them ,vere from Fulton county. However, he relates that he once heard Uncle Dock Holt, father of John R. Holt of Pocahontas and W. A. of Warm Springs, say that he was with his father in Price's raid through Missouri. His father served under Gen. Joe Shelby and admired him so much that ,vhen the ,var ,vas over and he married, he named one

[2841 FAMILY HISTORY of his sons for Gen. Shelby. This son happens to be our subject. After the war Abe Decker and three of his brothers came io Randolph county. Bob and John, remaining in Fulton county ,vhere John bought the old home place and lived on it many years, selling it to his son, John, ,vho owned it until 1930. One of the first county roads in Fulton county crossed the South Fork river at the Decker ford, which ,vas on this farm. In 1937 the county built a nice steel bridge across the river at this point and it is called the Decker bridge. After coming to Randolph county the Decker brothers established homes for themselves. Frank married Mary \Vells, daughter of Hutcherson Wells, and a sister of the late J. B. (Broadfoot) Wells. Jim married Emely Wells, a sister of the late Turner Wells. Ebb, the youngest son, married Martha Hays, a daughter of the late Dave Hays. She was a niece of the late Tom Blansett. Abe Decker married Mary Land. This couple became the parents of our subject, and also J. vV., Frank C., Evaline (Buchannan), \Valter, Homer and Corbett. Joe S. Decker has the follo,ving to say about his father· s old home: "When I was a very small boy my father bought the old Land homestead from grandfather Land. Seven of us chil­ dren grew to maturity on this old homestead. Long kno,vn as the Land farm, it later became to be known as the Decker farm and remained in the Decker family until a fe,v years ago. Father and mother both passed a,vay ,vhile living on this old place.

'► The records of Randolph county sho,v that the first county road that was granted in the county ran by this old farm. It was known as the Pocahontas and Salem road. ~,fy grandfather was living on this farm at the time B. F. (Frank) Bigger carried the mail horseback benveen the t,vo to,vns.

[285] HISTORY OF RAl\/DOLPH COUNTY

The town of \Valnut Hill or Kingsville on the creek belo,v Ravenden Springs ,vas the first postoffice on the route going ,vest from Pocahontas. This ,vas long before the Frisco rail­ road was built up Spring river valley to connect Memphis and Kansas City. This ,vas the same Frank Bigger ,vho be­ came one of the ·wealthiest men and largest taxpayers of Randolph county at the time of his death. "Louis Land, the grandfather of my mother and ,v. \V. Bailey was a Revolutionary soldier. He died at the age of 106 years. Grandfather Land died at the age of 90. The !..ands and Deckers have fought in five wars." Joe S. Decker married Oma Pickett, March 11, 1903. Her parents were James E. Pickett and Emily Galbraith Pick­ ett. They have t,vo daughters, Verma, ,vho married Jakie Schoonover, and Wanda Lee, who married Harris Cathey. Joe Decker is at present engaged in the real estate business. Elsewhere in this book is a photo and short article con­ cerning Mr. Decker's activities concerning the county judge's office and the building of the ne,v courthouse.

l\IY PIONEER GR.A.NDPA.RENTS (Davis and Spikes)

('Vritten by ~Irs. i\Iaud Davis Bro,vn, ,vife of Dr. J. \\'. Brown). "'l\1y father, John R. Davis, ,vas born near Atlanta, Georgia, in I 851. He ,vas the son of Elisha and Lucy Burell Davis. His parents came to Randolph county from Georgia in 1870, but they ,vere reared in South Carolina. My grand­ n1other Davis was a granddaughter of Dr. John Burell of Paris, France. Dr. Burell (Burl in French) was a M. D. and skillful surgeon. He came to America with La.Fayette in 1777 to help America fight for independence. He married an ~.\1nerican girl and ne,·er returned to his native land. His

[286] FAAIILY HISTORY

,vife ,vas of English descent but spoke French as fluently as she did her o,vn language. Dr. Burell never learned to speak our language. Their children ,vere taught to speak both languages. "My mother, Elizabeth Spikes Davis, ,vas born in Ran­ dolph county in 1852. She was a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Copeland Spikes. lVf y mother's grandparents, \Villiam and Elizabeth Biddle Spikes, came to Randolph county in 1820. "~iy ancestors were all Southerners. My mother ,vas reared near the Mason and Dixon line and my father sa,v Sherman's 1narch to the sea. They, with their parents, experienced all the suffering and hardships following the Civil \,Var, in ,vhich my mother lost three brothers. "When we think of the courage and the bravery our foreparents had to leave the home of their childhood, their relatives and friends, and make the long, hard, dangerous trip ,vestward, to find homes for themselves and their large fan1ilies, it makes us ,vonder if ,ve could have been that brave. "My people on both sides as far back as I kno,v have been l\Iethodists. l\f y Great-grandfather Spikes helped to build the first l\ifethodist church in Randolph county in I 830. l\I y grandparents did a lot in the early days to establish and carry on the work of the church. \Vith all their ,vork, hard­ ships and sacrifices, they found time for family prayer and ,vorship. To me they have left a ,vonderful heritage." The Davis and Spikes families have been long-time resi­ dents of Randolph county, and ~Irs. Bro,vn contributes this article to their memory.

[2871 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

THE HITE FAlVIILY

Harry Hite is a grandson of B. J. R. Hite, ,vho came to Randolph county from Lee county, Arkansas, in I 859. This being a ne,v county and so near the Mason-Dixon Line the family returned to the old home ,vhen the \Var Benveen the States broke out in 1861. Being Southerners, they feared for their safety. After the close of the ,var the family came back to Randolph county in 1867. The father of _Harry Hite was Henry C. I-lite, ,vho married Laura McGuire. They became the parents of nvo children, Harry and Johnnie. The latter died at an early age. Stephen C. l\ilcCrary, ,vho married Harriet Susan Hite, came to this community at the same time the Hite family came back. The McCrary and Hite families were early residents of Lee county. Hugh McCrary, the father of Stephen, ·was a soldier of the \Var of 1812. His ·wife ,vas Elizabeth \Vilson. H ~1gh lVIcCrary made the second cotton scraper ever used in Phillips county. Lee county ,vas a part of Phillips county at this ti1ne. After locating in Cherokee Bay the Hite and l\lcCrary families, together with other settlers in that section, cleared the land and built homes. ..A. log church ,vas built at this time, which is still standing. It is located on the t,v-o-aa·e plot ,vhich is now the Hite cemetery. B. J. R. Hite gave the land for use as a cemetery and site for a church. He ,vas a l\Iethodist minister but other denominations ,vere alloured free use of the building. This building ,vas also used as a school for many years. It ,vas here that Harry Hite received most of his education. Some of the first neighbors of these families ,vere the Luttrells, Reynolds, Shavers, Herrens, Bo,vdens, Duck­ ,vorths, Fords, \Vatson, \Vinninghams, Slavens and Dre,v families.

[288] JiA.AflLY HJS1'0RY

Harry Hite married ~Iiss Tommie \Vells, November 7, 1894. Mrs. Hite is a great-granddaughter of Thomas H. and Barbra Mabrey \Ve11s, "vho came to Randolph county fron1 South Carolina and \Tirginia by lvay of Washington county, Missouri, in l 82 l. His son, the grandfather of Mrs. Hite, came with his parents to the county, as stated above, in 1821, the year he was born. His name ,vas John \Vells and he married Harriet Alcorn, July 13, 1848. A son of this union, \Villiam \Vells, was the father of Mrs. Hite. He married l\lartha Ann Reynolds, a daughter of James M. Reynolds. She ,vas a sister of Capt. Dennis \V. Reynolds for whom the town of Reyno was named. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hite have spent their entire lives in Randolph county, within a fe,v miles of their present home. In November, 1944, they celebrated their Golden ·wed­ ding anniversary. They are the parents of four children, as follo,vs: Gordon Hite, Mrs. Tola Cox, l\Irs. Etalka Tyler and Mrs. ~label \Vickersham. They have seven grandchildren. They are: Clement and Don Cox; Tommie Lee, Betty and Harold Tyler; Ben Hite and Charles \Vickersham.

[289J HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU1.VTY

~rHE DR. l\'IARTIN HOGAN FAMILY

Dr. Martin Hogan was born November 16, 1833, in Logan county, Kentucky. He ·was the son of William and Mary \Vallace Hogan, who came to Kentucky from Virginia in 1808. Dr. Martin Hogan married Mary S. \Vhite, in Lyon county, Kentucky, November 13, 1860. Mrs. Hogan ,vas a daughter of George and Catherine Martin \Vhite, and was born July I 7, 1840. She was a sister of Sol M. \Vhite of Pocahontas. This couple were the parents of the follo·wing children: William, who was sheriff and collector of Randolph county four years and later a prominent merchant of Middlebrook, and later of Cotter and Norfork, Baxter county. "Bill," as he ,vas always called, married Miss l\ifattie Lou Curd, daughter of l\'Irs. Rufe Roberts, March 15, 1891. He ,vas also a timber dealer and ,vas successful in this undertaking. Kate, ,vho n1arried John D. Webster, was a ,vell kno,vn teacher of the county for a number of years. Lou, ,vho first married D. F. Stewart in November, 1916. After his death she 111arried Alec Shipman, rviarch 20, 1927. She died the follO'\ving September 17, 1927. Birdie, ,vho taught school several years, dying at the age of 26, March 31, 1900. Lizzie, who became a nurse. Her last ,vork was in Kansas City. Lina \V., ,vho ,vas a carpenter by trade, married Elfleda Jones, J\IIarch 8, 1924, at Reyno. He died at Pocahontas, January 24, 1945. ~fadison B., also a carpenter, married Fannie Bradley, Janu­ ary 2, 1924, at Maynard. She is a well known nurse. John,. generally known as "Jack," the sponsor of this article, ,vas born October 20, 1872. He married ~Iiss Lawrence Cate, ~:fay 27, 1900. John Hogan is one of the best known public school teachers the county has produced. He is no,v retired. He is the first teacher from Randolph county ,vho retired on the Teacher·s Retirement Compensation, in 1938. He

(290] FAlHILY HISTORY taught in Clay, La,vrence and Randolph counties. He began teaching in 1896 and taught until an accident disabled him in 1934. Mr. and Mrs. Hogan reared a large family and are good citizens of the to,vn of l\faynard, \vhere they have re­ sided most of their lives. The father, Dr. Martin Hogan, was one of the pioneer physicians of the county. He also was a minister of the Church of Christ. After attending medical school in Cincinnati, Ohio, he came south in January, 1871, and settled in Arkansas. He had a desire to learn the diseases affecting both the North and South. He became a successful practitioner. He later gave up preaching because the duties of both professions kept him away from home so much. At that time families lived so far distant apart that in performing his duties as a family physician, he w·as often gone fron1 home a ,veek at a time, going from house to house, aaministering to the sick. Such ,vas the rugged life of the doctor at that tin1e. Dr. Hogan and "rife ,vere the parents of three children ,vhen they can1e to Randolph county in 1871. They ,vere the three eldest, \Villiam, Kate and I .. ou. The other children were born in this county. The family has long been prominent in the county. Three generations have been teachers in the schools. They have always been interested in all things for the bettermen of the community. The family for several generations have been members of the Church of Christ and they \vere among the leaders instrumental in the establishment of the Church of Christ at Maynard. Dr. l\ilartin Hogan w·as a brother of Prof. John Hogan, Sr.. , and a brief article about him and his ,vife, "'i\liss Eli1.a"', appears belo,,r.

[291] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

PROF. JOHN HOGAN, SR., AND \VIFE, "i\lISS ELIZA"

The above couple ,vere among the most noted educators which have ever lived in Randolph county. John Hogan and wife came to Randolph county in 1872. He was a brother of Dr. Martin Hogan. They first taught school at Corning, soon after coming to this section. During the 70' s they taught at their home ,vhich was a mile ,vest of Maynard. They also taught at a house on their farm which ,vas a mile and a half west of town and also at the "Cabin," another house on their farm. They also taught at Pocahontas during the early 80's. This school ·was held in the old Masonic Hall in Pocahontas. Soon after this, they taught the first term of school in the "new schoolhouse" at Middlebrook. Another place near Maynard which they tauch was at the Miller house on their farm. During the early 90' s they taught at ,varm Springs. This ,vas their last work together. He re­ tired from teaching at this time. After he retired, Miss Eliza taught at several places in the county, among ,vhich ,vere .A.inley, Pitn1an, !\-foore and Albritton. Many fine young men and ,vomen ,vho later became distinguished citizens of Randolph county, attended school ,vhich Prof. and Miss Eliza Hogan taught in the years be­ tween 1872 and 1900. Among these ,vere, \Villian1 Henry Johnston, Almus J. Witt, C. E. \Vitt, Lute Hurn, Tell Thompson, Ben A. Brown, D. C. and H. M. Bishop, John and Tom Albritton, Charles H. Carter, Misses Canda Ator, Ella Thompson, Lucy Hill, and many others. Lots of folks e\'en to this day, ,vhen they think of leading educators of north Arkansas, think first of "Old Prof. and Miss Eliza Hogan." They ,vere contemporaries with Prof. F. E. Tilford and wife, as teachers in Randolph county during this period and it is possible that this quartet is the four best kno,vn educators that the county has ever seen .. Dr. l\fartin died at ~fa}nard, August 6, 1916. His ,vife. ~Iary \Vhite Hogan, died ~larch 13, 1913. Prof. John Hogan

[292] FAJ\flLY HISTORY died November 11, 1910. His wife, Eliza Jones Hogan, died July 27, 1912. The latter also died at Maynard. The village of Maynard and surrounding communities are better communities by having had citizens like Dr. l\Iar­ tin and Prof. John Hogan and their ,vives live there.

THE INGRAM FAMILY

'"rhe Ingram family of Randolph county is descended from James P. and Rebecca Mansker Ingram. Ja1nes P. Ingram ,vas born in Virginia in 1800, and his ,vife in 1811. He came to this county in 1824, settling on a farm near the present site of the Ingran1 cemetery, on the old ·1viilitary road bet,veen Maynard and Supply. Here he lived until his death in 1874. James P. Ingram ,vas an influ­ ential and prosperous citizen. He served in various official capacities for many years, being the county's fourth county judge. James P. and Rebecca Mansker Ingrain ,vere the parents of 11 children. Among these were G. H. (Dock) , Lurana, ,vho married \V. P. G. (Green) Johnston; Leddie B., ,vho married Henderson H. Hatley; Hannah, ,vho died at 20 years of age, and J. "\V. (Blind Bill) . l\frs. Hatley ,,ras the mother of Mrs. Josie Lamb, mother of the author's ·wife. The father of Rebecca Ingram ,vas George l\lansker, ,vho came to Randolph county from Sumner county, Ten­ nessee,. in 1817, settling on the creek w·hich bears the family name, just north of Pocahontas. Governor Thomas S. Dre,v ,vas horn in \Vilson county, Tennessee, a few miles from the Mansker home and the families were intermarried before coming to this county. The children of George and Elizabeth Mansker ,vere Sarah,. ~fargaret, Nancy, John, Casper, George, Colenian, Jackson, William, Catherine and Rebecca (l\frs. Ingram).

[293] HISTORY OF RA1.VDOLPH COU1VTY

Sarah married John Fisher, Margaret married Matthias Mock, Nancy married King Fisher, Coleman married Mar­ tha Mitchell, Catherine married Carlton Lindsey and Re­ becca married James P~ Ingram. Who the other married is not kno-wn. J. \V. (kno,vn for many years as Uncle Blind Bill) Ing­ ram, vv-as born May 8, 1839. He married another Rebecca l\fansker (same name as his mother), a relative of his mother's family, April 12, 1857. He was 18 years of age at the time. Among the children of this marriage were: Elizabeth, who married William Smith; Martha, who mar­ ried \Villiam Jolly; Sarah, ,vho married Robert Johnson; I ... \'., ·who married Benjamin Phipps, and William, who married Tennie Pond. \Villiam and Mrs. Johnson are sti11 Jiving in Texas, at this time. Mrs. Jolly ,vas the mother of Joe Jolly of Supply; Claude of St. Louis; Mrs. E. Bro,vn of Corning; \Valter, Roy and the late Judge Rex E. Jolly, the last three deceased. Uncle Bill Ingram's second ·wife was Josie 1\lock, a gTanddaughter of Matthias Mock referred to above. To this union ·was born the follo,ving who lived to maturity: Rufus G., l\7ho died in early manhood; Thomas F. and J. R. G. (Bob). Uncle Bill married Miss Mock October 9, 1870. She died December 28, 1883. Mary P. Kerley Tilley became his third wife April 10, 1884. To this union several children ,vere born, only one of ,vhich gre,;v up. This was Lura Dean, ,vho is the wife of , Viii Red,vine of l\Jaynard. The third Mrs. Ingram had previously married \Villiam Tilley and ,vas the mother of three children, one of ,v-hich ,;vas Tom Tilley, no,v residing near Maynard. Tom Tilley is the father of Earle Tilley, present county tax assessor. Thomas F. Ingram married Cina Bro,;vn, member of an early Little Black township family. To this union was born the follow-ing children no\v living: T. F .. , Jr.. , ,vho married

[294] FAAflLY HISTORY

Opal Sammons; Beulah, ·who married Clarence Fow·ler; and Ruth, ,vho married Hite Hogan. T. F. and Beulah. n;side in the county and Ruth lives in St. Louis. Mr. Ingram died in 1943. Mrs. Ingram lives in the old family home. J. R. G. (Bob) Ingram married Eliza Fowler, daughter of Rev. Alex and Belle Rapert Fowler. Uncle Alex was one of the pioneer preachers of the Supply community. The children of this union are: Gertrude, who married Less E. Allen, son of W. R. Allen, for many years a merchant and cotton buyer of Supply; Erman, who married Winnie Craw­ ford, member of a prominent Missouri family. Erman is assistant manager of the Midwest branch of International Harvester Company, at Quincy, Illinois; Josie, wife of Roger \Vills of Little Rock. Josie teaches in the Pulaski county schools; F1eeta, ,vho married Troy Cockrum. Troy is _the son of Henry and the late Ganie Taylor Cockrum of Supply. They live at Maynard. Oscar, married Dera Ford of Poca­ hontas. He is associated ,vith Baltz Hard·ware Company. Eula, the youngest daughter, lives ,vith her parents, and is a tnember of the 1\'.[aynard school faculty, and Curtis 0. of Pocahontas. Curtis married Laura Morris, daughter of E. L. l\f orris. l\'lrs. Ingram's paternal ancestors, the Morris, l\fontgomery and Gill families, ,vere pioneers of Adair county, Kentucky. They came into that section over the old \VildenleS-$ road with the first settlers. Her maternal ancestors ,vere the Suttons, ,Vheelers and Camers, ,vho have been residents of Pike county,. Illinois,. for over a century. 1Ir. and ~lrs. Ingram ,vere married in 1918, just before Curt ,vent overseas to serve in \Vorld War I. They are the parents of four children: Purcell, who served in the late ,var as M. P. with the Sixth Service Command; Eileen and Beverly, at home,. and Yvonne, ,vho married James Randell. Other members of the family of Uncle Blind Bill Ingram ,,~ho served in \Vorld \Var II are: I ..oren Jolly, ,vho served as

[295] HISTORY OF RAl\/DOLPH COUNTY chaplain in the Pacific area; Burford Jolly, ,vho ,vas ,vith General Patton, in a railway battalion; Raymond Bro,vn, who participated in the African, Italian, French and German campaigns, being a,varded the Silver Star; Beverly Ingram, ,vho served through the N e,v Guinea, 11orotai and Philip­ pine campaigns, taking part in four major battles. Beverly is a brother of Purcell named above. The Ingram family has long been identified ,vith the business and political history of the county. Uncle Bill and his brother G. H. (Dock) , operated cotton gins for many years in the eastern part of Randolph county. Their brother­ in-1aiv, Green Johnston ,vas also a cotton gin operator, and the same is true of another brother-in-law, Henderson Hat­ ley and his brother Albert Hatley. The present generation sti11 operate a gin. lJ ncle Bill Ingran1 joined the Confederate Army and ser,·ed first under Col. Robert G. Shaver. Later he ,vas ·with General Price in his raid through Missouri. In the floor of the old home near Supply was a trap door ·which opened into the basement which was used by Mr. Ingram ,vhen he ,vas home on furlough, if the Yankees got too close. It is said that he escaped being captured several times in this manner. The old home stood until recently. The first ,vife of Uncle Bill took her mother-in-law· (the ,vife of James P. Ingram) and a Negro boy and droYe an ox ,vagon from the old home to Cape Girardeau, l\lis­ souri, during the ,var, crossing Federal lines, to secure medical supplies for the community. Uncle Bill lost his eyesight in January, 1873, on ac­ count of erysipelas, ,vhich ,vas first contracted ,vhile attend­ ing the ·w-ounded on the battlefields, and throughout the remainder of his life carried on activities which many persons ·with good eyes did not venture to do. He ·was a large land­ holder and a benefactor to many people in the eastern part

[296] FAAflLY HISTORY of the county. The story is told that any time 1nisfortune and hardship overtook a family Uncle Bill ,vas one of the first to ride over to "see ,vhat needed to be done." He ·pos­ sibly had as many friends at the time of his death as any man who ever lived in Randolph county. He died in 1917 at the age of 77.

THE JARRETT F.i\1\fILY

The Jarrett family is one of the oldest of the county. Dr. \Villia1n Jarrett the "father" of the Jarretts of central Randolph county is said to have purchased land near the present-day Foster Ford on Fourche de Mas river from Richard Fletcher in 1801. Dr. Jarrett came to Randolph county from the state of Pennsylvania. He later acquired other lands, some of it through his ,vife, Hannah Seavers, ,vhom he married l\1ay 4, 1821. Her 1naiden nan1e ,vas l\1iller, she being the daughter of ~Iartin l\liller ,\·ho 111ade a ,vill (recorded in the old La,vrence county records July 3, 1821) in ,vhich he bequeathed certain lands ··()n the ,vaters of Fourche de Thon1as., to this daugh­ ter. l\lrs. Jarrett had previously married c;abriel Seavers, ,,·ho ,vas a soldier of the \ Var of 1812. To ~Ir. and l\Irs. Jarrett ,vas born a son, December 3, 1827, na1ned Henry Con,vay. Dr. \Villiam Jarrett ,vas one of the leading men of the county during his day. Dr. Englemann the noted German scientist ,vho visited this section in 1837 states in his diarv. that Dr. Jarrett ,vas a very learned man. He ,vas justice of the peace for many years, ,vas a leader in the move to locate the county seat at old Colu1nbia ,vhen it ,vas located at Poca­ hontas in 1836. Shinn's History lists hin1 as one of the

[297] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY promoters of a Fourth of July celebration at that place in 1821. His son, Henry Con,vay Jarrett, married Louisa Chris­ tiana FJeugge, November 4, 184 7. Uncle Joe Jarrett tells us that at the time of the marriage of this couple, who ,vere his parents, that his mother lived about three miles east of the present day village of Ponder, Ripley county, Missouri. Her parents were of German ancestry, who settled in Ripley county at an early day. Mr. Jarrett first met his ,vife ,vhen she attended church at the old '"Salem" church ,vhich ,vas located near the home of Dr. '\Villiam Jarrett. He says she attended regularly, coming a. distance of some 15 1niles on horseback. To the union of Henry C. Jarrett and Louisa C. Fleugge were born five sons, as follows: William H., ,vho married Maggie Murray. He moved to Little Rock about 1870 ,vhere he became ,vell known in that city. He was born May 10, 1849, and died in 1944; Le,vis C., born l\farch 4, 1851. Ht! 1narried Luella Adams (a relative of John Quincy Ada1ns). Their children ·were ,villia1n H., Jr., James C., Sular and Ida, ,vho n1arried Jake Roberts, a son of David Roberts and Susan \Vaddle Roberts. She has one son, Earl. The third son of Henry C. Jarrett ,vas Charles Isha1n, ,vho 1nan·ied Hessie Purdy. He ,vas born February 10, 1853. Next ,,·as Joseph ..\.:, ,vho is still living on the old hon1e place and has never 1narried. He was born February 3, 1864. The youngest son ,vas James C., ,vho married Alice Elizabeth Carroll. She ,vas a daughter of Tone Carroll and Nancy Spikes Carroll. Nancy Spikes ,vas a daughter of Jesse and Nancy Copeland Spikes. James C. Jarrett was born Septe1n­ oer 7, 1868 and was married January 21, 1892. James C. Jarrett and Alice Elizabeth Carroll Jarrett \Vere the parents of five children, the oldest dying in infancy; James Ervin, born January 6, 1894; Oscar ~lcClure, born January 7, 1897; Joseph Albert born June 20, 1901, died

[298] FAMILY HISTORY

1908; Iva Christiana born April 26, 1908. Iva married Otis Kerley February 4, 1928, son of Richard an_d Tola Ingram Kerley. Their children are \Vilbur, James, Katy Sue, Alfred, Betty Carroll and J. C .. James Ervin Jarrett married Alice \Vooldridge, daughter of Le,vis and Minerva Jarrett (no kin) \Vooldridge, December 20, 1918. They are the par­ ents of the follo·wing children: Bernardine, born in 1919; L. Conway, born in 1922; James Joe, born in 1926; Minerva Alice, born in 1932; Eldon, born in 1934; and Bennie, born in 1939. Lewis Conway Jarrett, son of Ervin Jarrett, listed above, married Ervalene, daughter of Mr. and 1V1rs. John Shocklee of Ingram. 1\Irs. Shocklee ,vas Pearl Condict before her marriage. Con·way and Ervalene have one child, a daughter, Sharon Kay. Oscar McClure Jarrett married Edna Lincoln, April 6, 1929. She is a daughter of \Villiam L. and l\Iattie Hurley Lincoln. They are the parents of \Vinnifred Lucile, born January 8, 1930, and Charles Ishan1, born June 9, 1933. The Jan·ett family has furnished n1en in all the wars in ·which this nation has been invoh·ed since the dalvn of the nineteenth centu11·. Dr. ,villia1n Jarrett ·was a major in the U. S.. A.rmy in the \Var ,vith ~Iexico. Henry Conway Jarrett ,vas a Confederate soldier, enter­ ing service of the Southland and ,vas one of the men who helped organize and train a company of soldiers in the bottom field near the present Fourche bridge in the Co- 1umbia community. \Vhen \Vorld \Var I found our nation in the conflict, both Ervin and Oscar, sons of James C. Jarrett entered service and served many months in the regular army. Oscar served some time in France.

[2991 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU.:.VTY

In \Vorld \Var II Cotnvay Jarrett, and James Joe Jarrett, sons of Ervin Jarrett, served their country. Conway spent a period of three and one-half years in the Army Air Corps as staff sergeant, and James Joe is now in the Army Infantry, in the Pacific area. He is also a staff sergeant. Ervin Jarrett has been a teacher in the schools of Ran­ dolph county several years. Both he and his brother Oscar and their sister l\f rs. Kerley reside on the old home place and are successful farmers. James C. Jarrett, Jr., son of Le,vis C. Jarrett, is a success­ ful business n1an of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and also a leader in the Democratic party of that state. He ,vas a presi­ dential elector from Colorado in the last presidential elec­ tion, and has also held other political offices.

REV. SAMUEL LARKIN JOHNSTON

The subject of this sketch ,vas born in Siloan1 to,vnship, two 1niles ,vest of the present village of l\fiddlebrook, ...\pril 6, 1866. He ,vas 1narried to Sallie E. Carter, July 14, 1889. To this union ,vas born 12 children: Otis, born April 27, 1890; Tula, born Sep'tember 6, 1891; Roy \V., born November 10, 1893; Le,vis C., born November IO, 1895; Leland, born December 12, 1897; Lena B., born August 4, 1899; Lora B .. , born Au­ guest 5, 1901; l\Iary C., born September 11, 1903; \Villie l\lay, bon1 ~lay 11, 1905; Liston Lamar, born December 30, 1906; Ella V., born February 2, 1909, and Nona K., born July 14, 1911. l\lrs. Johnston ,vas born the daughter of George \V. and Elizabeth Jane Austin Carter. The father ,vas born in Au­ gust, 1834, and died in January, 1880. He ,vas born in Dixon county, Tennessee. The mother was born June 25, 1842 in Gra,·es county, Kentucky, and died in 1925.

(300] FAJ.lfILY HISTORY

The family came to Randolph county in 1872. George and Elizabeth Carter ,vere the parents of six children: Charles H., ,vho is a former county judge of this county; Nannie Lou; James A.; George \V.; Nora Idel1a, and Mrs. Johnston.

Our subject and ,vife have 35 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren to date.

Samuel Larkin Johnston is a son of Lewis B. and Ten­ nessee Spencer Johnston, ,vho ,vere married February 23, 1848, in Tennessee. Lewis B. Johnston was a son of George Gregory Johnston and Martha Burton Johnston, ,vho came to Randolph county in 1849. Le,vis B. did not come here until the next year. The Johnston family first settled two miles ,vest of Middlebrook. From here the family spread over this and Ripley county, Missouri. The Johnston Chapel l\fethodist church, in Ripley county, about six miles north of the first home of this family was named for Lew·is B. Johnston. It was located on his farm and the family was one of the founders. Lewis B. Johnston later moved back do,vn into Randolph county where he and his son Charles G., opened up a store at Middlebrook. The children of Gregory Johnston, grandfather of our subject, were: Arena, who married Rev. Jesse Robinson in 1844; Rev. Larkin F., ,vho married Permelia ..Ann La,vson in 1864; Le,vis B., ,vho married Tennessee Spencer in 1848; \V. P. G. (Green), ,vho married Lurana Ingram ill' 1853; James F., ,vho married Martha ivicDaniel in 1853; Sarah Jane, who married D. C. Moore in 1855; George Henry, ,vho married Myra Reynolds in 1856, and Fletcher and 11argie who died young. Arena ,vas .the mother of "Jim Lewisn Robinson and other children. He ,vas the father of Tom H .. and Charlie of Biggers, Mrs. C. K.. Black and Mrs. R. E.. Salle of Poca­ hontas, Mrs. Jim \Visner and Mrs.. John T .. Robinson of

[3011 HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Reyno, Mrs. Sarah McCrary of Oklahoma, Mrs. Williams of Memphis and other children. Larkin F. Johnston ,vas the father of the late William Henry Johnston, father of Ben Johnston of Pocahontas. Green Johnston was the father of James Johnston for whom the old to,vn of Johnstontown on Current river was named; also Gregory (Mrs. F. E. Belford and Reddin Johnston· s father) ; Rufus ~I.· of Reyno, W. S. of Maynard and other children. Lurana Ingram, first wife of Green Johnston ·was a sister of the wife of Henderson Hatley. James F. ,vas the father of Arena Kerley, Ganie and Ellen 1\tiock, L. F. (Albertha Lewis) , William "Billy," and other children. Sarah Jane Moore was the mother of Mary Ellen Taylor, wife of Ben F. Taylor, whose f~mily history is also in this book. The other children of Greogry Johnston, Sr., left no heirs. The children of Le,vis B. and Tennessee Spencer John­ ston ,vere: Charles G.; Sarah, who married Jonathan Pulliam; Ellen, ,vho married a Mr. Albritton; James; William; Jess M.; Cordie, who married Robert Cox; Permelia, who mar­ ried Neely !vloore; Arena, who married John "\Villiams; Martha, ·who married Jack Keel; Peyton and Samuel Larkin, our subject. Several members of the Johnston family have been public officials. Rev. L. F. ·was county clerk in 1850-52 and tax assessor three terms. William H. was tax assessor 1882-84. Charles G. was representative in 1887-88. Ben Johnston was county clerk twice by election and once by appointment. Green was coroner in 1866-68. Lewis B. was tax assessor and county judge in Ripley county, l\{issouri. At least a clozen have been constables, marshal and justice of the peace for many years. There has been more ministers in the Johnston ·family than any other the county has produced. The first was

[302] FAAlILY HISTORY ·

Larkin F., then Jesse Robinson, Jesse's son Don l\l.; S. L. (our subject) ; his son Liston; Chester and Sam Pulliam, (Sarah Johnston's grandsons) ; \Valter (Lewis B.'s grand­ son); Kenneth, (Green's grandson). They ,vere all Method­ ist ministers. Oscar, another grandson of Green, is a Baptist minister. A son-in-la,v of our subject, Rev. \Vesley Henson, is a Baptist minister. Calvin Cox (Cordie's son), and Glendon Shaver (our subject's grandson), are ministers of the Church of Christ. There may be others not listed here. The John­ ston family can be truly said to be one of the largest and best kno,vn families in Arkansas. Our subject, Samuel l.,arkin Johnston, has lived a Jong useful life and no,v resides at Middlebrook ,vith his inva]id ,vife. He is one of the best kno,vn retired 1\f ethodist 1nin­ istcrs in the county.

THE JOHN A. JOHNSON FAl\IILY

John A. Johnston ,vas a son of William Torrence Johnson ,vho came to eastern Randolph county in 1845. The mother of John A. Johnson was a daughter of Asa Taylor, who came here from Graves county, Kentucky, during the same period. The Taylor and Johnson families were instrumental in the establishing of the Glaze Creek Church of Christ the s.:'lmc year that the elder Johnson located in this section . • John .1..\.. Johnson married Susan F. Elkins, a daughter of \Villiam S. Elkins. The children of \Villiam F. Elkins and his first ·wife were: Sarah, ,vho married John Riley Odom; Elizazbeth, who married George Baker; Susan F. (Mrs. Johnson) ; Clemantine, \\'"ho n1arried Cord Parish and .Alonzo and Nancy by a second marriage. Nancy married Tom Crawford and .Alonzo married Ellen Ha·wk ...Allie Baker, a niece of ~fr. Elkins,. ,vas reared by him. She married Tom Luter.

[303] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

John A. Johnson and Susan F. Elkins Johnson were the parents of the follo,ving children: A. S., who married Hattie Slayton. They are the parents of Ralph E., who married Mary Rogers; Susan Teresa, who married Frank Craft; Geneva Lynn, ,vho married Oscar Spencer; Nell, who mar­ ried Rev. A. B. Constantz, and Jehu A., who married Lucy Slaughter. Another daughter of John A. Johnston, Cordelia, mar­ ried W. E. l\fathis. Their children were Elsie, who married Bill Martin; Mary Francis, Norvesta and Vera May. Sarah Ella, daughter of John A. Johnston, married De\Vitt Hagood. They ,vere the parents of the follo,ving children: Orie, ,vho married Mayme Chorice; Gilbert, ,vho married Essie Taylor; Etta, ,vho married Jess R. Pratt; Lena i\fay, who married Orace Jones; John, ,vho married Naomi Luter, and Edgar, ,vho married Irene Pitman. The t,vin sister of Mrs. Hagood is Mrs. Etta Johnston. Etta first married R. J. Stephens at Don (no,v Success) in 1891. They had one daughter, Christine, who married Garvt; Abbott. Mr. Stephens died 15 months after his marriage. Mrs. Stephens married John Talbott five years later. They were the parents of the following children: Hassel, who married John T. Springer; Lois, who married Harold Britton; Lilly, ,vho married Everett Bryant; Guy, who mar­ ried Jane McCauley; Harry L., who married Dora Chappell, and Robert, ,vho married Mary Evalyn Fow-Ier. Mr. Talbott died in 1937. In 1943 1\-Irs. Talbott married \V. S. (Stedman) John­ ston, son of Greene Johnston, early settler of Little Black township. ~fr. and Mrs. Johnston now live at ~faynard. ,villiam Torrence Johnson, the father of John A. John­ son, ,vas also the father of the follo,ving other children: Lavinah, who married Craven Wilson. Mr. and Mrs. \Vilson ,vere the parents of the follo,ving children: Mary Elizabeth,

[304] FAi\1/LY HISTORY

,vho married Dr. Val Seal; \Villiam Reuben to Lizzie l\Ieeks, Johnnie l\Iartin to Adna Jones, Chloe Hester to James Kidd, Veda Emily to \Vill Gillis, Fifa Myrtle to a l\fr. Sadler and Pearl Denton, Moses Tolbert and Carl Craven, wives names unknown. The other daughter of William T. John­ son ,vas Mary Elizabeth, who married John Calvin Cox. i\fr. and Mrs. Cox were the parents of the follo·wing chil­ dren: Susan Caroline, who married John Johnston and later Bob Robinson; Robert L., who married Cordia John­ ston; William David, who married Mollie Carter; Joseph L., ·who married Leota Vester; Mary Bell, who married George Mansker, and Malissa Jane, ·who married Levi Helms. For 1nany years after the old Glaze creek church ,vas established there had been no cemetery. Levi Helms, a grandson-in-Ia,v of \ViJliam Torrence Johnson, one of the founders of the church, was the first person buried in the cemetery 90 years after it ,vas established! This family is closely related to some of the very first families of the county. Craven '\Vilson ,vas a son of one Benjamin Wilson who located near the "Wilson Ford" on Fourche creek about 1840. Cordia Cox was the grand­ daughter of Gregory Johnston, who settled ,vest of Middle­ brook in 1848. James Kidd was a grandson of old "Parson ,vitt," early preacher of Siloam township. The Cox and Carter families ,vere among the first to settle in what is no,v Richardson township and the same is true of n1any other of the relatives of the descendants of \Villiam Torrence John­ son.

(305] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

LANDON CHRISTOPHER H.A.YNES

Landon Christopher Haynes ,vas bon1 at Nacogdoches, Texas, December 26, 1865. The son of M. H. and Mary King Haynes. The parents ,vere Tennesseans ,vho moved to the Lone Star State before the subject of our sketch ,vas born. The father died soon after the latter was born and his mother married J. A. Douglas, who for many years was a fami lier figure around the courthouse and well kno,vn in Pocahontas, known as "Squire Douglas." Mr. Haynes had three own brothers and two sisters, all no,v deceased. They ,vere J. D., G. !\,I. and R. L.; the sisters ,vere Emma1ine, ,vho married W. '\V. Cooper, and l\fattie ,vho married Jesse L. Lynch. Mr. Lynch is at present living ,·1ith his daughter, lVIrs. \V. H. Phipps in Pocahontas. The half brothers, tlvo in number, were Tho1nas D. Douglas, deceased, and Monroe Douglas of N e,vport, Arkansas. l\fr. Haynes married Miss Elmyra Virgin Knotts, Janu• ary 9, 1895. lVIrs. Haynes was the daughter of James R. Knotts and Elmyra Waldron Knotts. To this union was born one son, Thomas Dula, November 4, 1896. He lived only nine months and seven days, before the Lord called him home. Our subject quit farming and n1oved to Pocahontas . ..~pril I, I 906. He bought a grocery store from Harley i\lid­ kiff and operated this business several years. In I 922 the family n1oved to Success, .A.rkansas, ,vhere he again entered the mercantile business, in ,vhich he continued until Janu­ ary, I 944. Mr. and ~frs. Haynes still Ii Ye at Success. l\Ir. Haynes professed faith in Christ, August 9, 1899, and joined the Shiloh (Randolph county) ~fissionary Baptist church. After moving to Pocahontas he moved his member­ ship to the church there and served as deacon and also church treasurer several years. After moving to Success l\{r.

[3061 FA!vIILY HISTORY

Haynes served as Sunday school superintendent and church treasurer in that church a number of years. He has ahv.ays been a strong Baptist and a staunch Democrat. They have t,vo adopted daughters, J\.f rs. Belle Bro,vn of Pocahontas, and Mrs. Dorcas Smith of Corning.

'"fHE HOLT FAl\-lILY

The Holt family of Randolph county is descended from one Tom Holt, who was born in Pennsvlvania, about 1790. His parents died when he was young and a neighbor family took the boy to their home. This family is said to have been so mean to the boy that a number of neighbors ,vho ,verc preparing to migrate ,vest stole the boy and took him ,vith them. They moved to Illinois to make their home. Here Tom Holt lived until he was grown. He then ,vent to Madi­ son county, Missouri, ·where he married and then later moved down into this county. He settled on the place which later became known as the Uncle Dee Mock farm. He was the father of three boys. Their names were John, "\Villiam and David. Dave died a bachelor. John was the grandfather of John R. Holt of Pocahontas and \V. A. Holt of "\Varm Springs. William l\"as the great-grandfather of Tom and Edd Holt of Pocahontas. John ,vas the eldest of the three sons of Ton1 Holt. He ,vas born about 18 I 2. He married Mary Barrett and settled on l\0 hat is no,v known as the old Isaac \Vhittenberg place. They were the parents of four boys and five girls. They ,\-·ere: George, who ,vas killed in the Civii ,var '\Villiam (Dock) , Jim and Henry. The girls were Betty, Rebecca, Nancy, Eliza, and ~fartha. John Holt, the father, died in 1861. \Villiam 1narried Nancy Phillips and settled on a creek one mile east of \Vann Springs. He ,vas the father of John R. and W. A. He was

[3071 HISTORY OF RA!'-..7DOLPH COUNTY ahvays called "Dock." He was in the ,var ,vith General Price. Jim died young; Henry married Sis Thom. He died at Hoxie in 1886. He ,vas a Baptist preacher. \Villiam (Dock), ,vas born January 1, 1842, and died in 1926. \Villiam A. Holt married Malissa Dalton. They reside at \Varm Springs at present where they have lived almost three-quarters of a century. They have three sons and five daughters .. John R. Holt lives in Pocahontas at present. He was first married to Carrie Boas of Doniphan, Missouri. They were the parents of nine children, George W., Chester (deceased) , Lilly (deceased), John Randolph, Freeman L., Perry Ben­ ton, Ena, Heber and \Vinnie. Chester married Laura Booger, Randolph married l\1abel Mitchell, Freeman married Carrie Moore, Benton married 1\1artha Yarbrough, Ena married Guy Chick, Heber married Judith Johnson and \Vinnie married Cleatus Price. George is not married. After the death of Mr. Holt's first ,vife he married Estelle Tullis of Fairfield, Illinois, ,vho became a very kind and thoughtful step-mother to the Holt children. The Holt family is ,vell kno,vn in this section of the state.

[308] FA1\1ILY HISTORY

THE .J()HN H. L1\l\lB Fi\l\fILY

John H. Lamb 1narried Josephine Hatley. He ,vas a grandson of \Villiam l..amb, ,vho ,vas born and spent his life in central Kentucky. He ,vas the father of a number of children, of these \ViJey and William came to Randolph county in 1860. ·rhey settled in the community east of the present village of Maynard. Here they spent the balance of their lives and lie buried in the old Lamb cemetery near the present homes of Eugene Athy and \Villiam Evans. \Villiam Lamb, Jr., married Lucy Ann lVIills and they became the parents of two children, John H. and Amanda. After the death of \Villiam Lamb, his ,vidow married D. Blackburn and they became the parents of three children, Delia, Bessie and Charles. Amanda married James Reddin Hatley and they became the parents of six children lvho gre,v to adult­ hood, Zella, ,vho married Floyd Flanders; Elvin, who mar­ ried Della l\'Iay l\'Icllroy; Vera, who married \Valter Stray­ horn; Ila, ,vho married Ayliffe Tipton; Crystal, who mar­ ried Carl H. Brooks, and Rita, ,vho 1narried Jake Dunn. l\frs. Hatley lost her life in a car ,vreck at Benton, Arkan­ sas, in 1932. .After the death of l\!Irs. Hatley he married Nora Riley. l\[r. Hatley died at Biggers in 1938. John H. Lamb married Josephine Hatley, a sister of James Reddin Hatley. This making 1\-Ir. and Mrs. Hatley and l\Ir. and Nlrs. Lamb double "in-Ia,\·s." To the union of John and Josephine Hatley Lamb ,vere born eight children, six of ,vhom gre,v to adulthood. They ,vere l\farvin, ,vho married J e,vell Baker; Christine, ,vho married Aubrey Carter (she died in \Vashington, D. C. in 1935) ; Irene, ,vho married La,vrence Dalton, the author of this book; John, ,vho married Fay Bundren; Sherrill, ,vho married Jessie Parker, and Norma, ,vho married Vince ~fanning.

[309] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

John H. Lamb ,vas born in Kentucky, November 29, 1855, and ,vas brought to Randolph county by his parents ,vhen five years of age. He spent his boyhood near Maynard and removed to Reyno ,vhen a young man. Here he spent the remainder of his life. He died in I 920. Mrs. Lamb survives hi1n. She lives near Biggers at the present time, ,vith her youngest daughter. Josephine Hatley Lamb is descended from George and Elizabeth Mansker who came to Randolph county from Sum­ ner county, Tennessee, in 1817, settling on the creek ,vhich bears his name just north of the city of Pocahontas. A daughter of George Mansker married James P. Ing­ ram (the fourth county judge of the county). Her name was Rebecca. James P. Ingram and Rebecca Mansker Ingram became the parents of several children, among them ,vere \Villiam (known as Uncle Blind Bill); George H. (known as Dock); Lurana, who married W. P. Green Johnston, and Leddie B., ,vho married Henderson Hatley. Henderson and Leddie Hatley were married January 14, 1866. To this union ,vere born six children ,vho gTew to 111aturity. They ,vere: Jan1es Reddin, George, Presley, Lou, Estis and Josephine. As stated above, James 1na1Tied Atnanda Lamb; George married Minnie Nlyers; Presley and Lou died before mar­ riage; Estis married Ava Cherry, and Josephine man-ied John H. Lamb. Estis and Ava Cherry Hatley had nvo chil­ dren, 1\-Iilford and Vivian. The children of Josephine have already been named above. The above are the maternal rela­ tions of Josephine Hatley Lamb. The paternal grandparents of Josephine Hatley Lamb ,vere _Reddin and Delphia Kelley Hatley, ,vho were born in North Carolina. Their parents came to America from the British Isles in 1770. Of the seven sons born to Reddin and Delphia Kelley Hatley ,ve know· of nvo of them. These ,vere

(310] FAMILY HISTORY

Albert H. and Henderson, the father of 1\-f rs. Lamb. The children of Henderson are named above. Albert H. •first married Nancy Mitchell and they ,vere the parents of two children. After her death Albert Hatley married Mahulda Abbott and they became the parents of several children, among these were Ellen (who first married Gus Reynolds and after his death, Isaac Ebberts) ; Atlas, who married Tura Phipps, and Eli. The latter two now living in Missouri and Oklahoma respectively. Naomi married \Vill Witt and Gussie, who married John McCrary. The Hatley family came to Randolph county in 1851 and settled at Maynard. Among the first cotton gins estab­ lished in the county were built by members of the Ingram and Hatley families. Both are large families and having intermarried with the other early families of the ·county, the result is that they are related to many of the leading families of this section of the state. There are other branches of the Hatley family which we do not have the family data on. Ho,vever, they are all of the san1e family origin.

UH I J HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COU.\TTY

ELDER JOHN IL LEMMONS Early Randolph County Cluucl& of Christ minider, one of the founder• of Hubble Creek Church.

[312] FAMILY HISTORY

THE LEMMONS FAMILY

John M. Lemmons was born in \ 1irginia in 1816. He moved with his parents to Warren county, Tennessee, in 1818. He married and lived in Warren county until 1851, when he moved to Arkansas, locating first in Independence county. After one year he moved to Randolph county. In the same year, 1852, he and his older sons and two· or three neighbors built a log church house on Hubble creek, one mile south of Birdell. In 1862, during the Civil War, this· house was burned and in 1866 Mr. Lemmons with the help of others, built another house on Carter creek. However, the name "Hubble Creek" was retained. John M. Lemmons was the father of seven sons, Thomp­ son, Manson, Mannon, Josephus, Caleb, James and Peyton. He also had t,vo daughters, Emmaline and Margaret. He died in 1898 at the age of 82. Thomas Lemmons moved to Illinois in 1861. The other children all settled in Randolph county, and during the years have contributed much to,vard the development of the civic, religious and political interests of the county. John l\f. Lemmons was a preacher of the Church of Christ and did much to help establish the church in north Arkansas. His son Josephus ,vas licensed to preach July 18, 1868, upon the endorsement of the elders of the Hubble Creek church. He ,vas called .A.mos Uosephus A). The elders of the church at that time ,vere: His father, John l\f.; Cullen Pyland, L. D. Cartright, Samuel Donnell, and S. M. Hufstedler. Peyton ·was also a preacher of ability. These two brothers ,v-ere among the leading preachers of the Church of Christ of north Arkansas and south Missouri during this period. The sons and daughters of John ~{. Lemmons have all passed on but their children, grandchildren, and great-

[313] HISTORY OF RA"l\7DOLPH COU1.VTY grandchildren are among the leaders in the affairs of Ran• dolph, Greene and other counties of the state today. There has been a number of ministers in each generation and family of the descendants of John M. Lemmons. There has also been many successful farmers, teachers, in fact all professions are represented in this family. A number of the grandchildren of John M. Lemmons are living in the county today, among them are George F., A. T., Mrs. Vessie Bates, children of l\tiannon Lemmons and the wido,v of Riley, another son; George H., a son of Caleb is also living in the county. There are scores of later generations of Lemmons living in this and surrounding communities. This is a well kno,vn family and the old church which they established is one of the very first in this section of the state.

CHARLES \VILEY McCARROLL

The subject of this sketch is descended from one James A. l\1cCarroll, ,vho came to old La,vrence county from Kentucky about 1808. His son, James A. McCarroll, being the grandfather of our subject. James A. McCarroll married Rebecca Forrester. They were the parents of three children, Charles (kno,vn as Boob) ; Jane, w·ho married James ~IcGlothlin, and ...-\ndre\,r J . .A.ndre,v J. l\'IcCarroll married Lucinda J\Iilam, daughter of Joho B. ~1ilam. They l\"ere the parents of three children ,\1'ho grew to adulthood. They ,vere John H., Lucinda, who married J. A. lVIelton, and Charles Wiley, our subjecL Charles \\Tiley ,vas born July 24, 1870, in Butler to,vnship, in Randolph county, Arkansas. His father and family moved to what is no,v the Engleberg community in 1874.

[314] FAMILY -HISTORY

.At the time the family moved to this section there ,vere only about half a dozen families living in the community. Mail ,vas carried from Pocahontas to Pitman's Ferry and the settlers in the Engleberg community were obliged to go to old Albertha on the Doniphan-Pocahontas road for their mail. Some of the settlers in this community in 1874 were Dock Davis, Jess Norman, the McAfees, Knotts, Fosters and Hanleys. Our subject helped Isaac DeBow secure the DeBow post­ office in 1905 and was assistant postmaster for a period of 16 years, and served as postmaster for a period of 16 years. Serving a total of 32 years in the employ of the United States Postal Department. He retired in 1940, being the first man in the state of Arkansas to retire at the age of 70 years on postal employes retirement compensation. When the postoffice was discontinued at DeBo,v and a new office established at Engleberg, Mr. McCarroll became the first postmaster. He has the honor of being the first postmaster, first merchant and first justice of the peace at Engleberg. l\Tr. l\-IcCarroll relates that he and Mr. DeBo,v carried the mail from DeBo,v to Brockett, a distance of nvo miles, free of charge to the government the first six months after the former office was established, until the office w·as on a paying basis. Our subject married Susanne Ulmer February 16, 1914. She ·was a daughter of John Ulmer, early settler of the Stokes community. She had previously married Jake Lo't\iTey, and they ,vere the parents of four children. Their names ,vere Horace, Raymond, Mrs. Norman Harris and Van B. Mrs. ~fcCarroll died December 4, 1941, and ,vas buried "Pearl Harbor Day." Nfr. McCarroll and wife became the parents of nvo chil­ dren ,vhich gre,v to adulthood. They are Eugene, who mar­ ried Charlene Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gola

[315] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Jackson, and Catherine, who married Seigfried Yordt. The latter live in St. Louis, and the former lives with his father. Eugene and wife have one child and Catherine and husband have two children. Eugene's child, a son, is named Robert Eugene, born on V-J Day; and the daughter's childreR, a boy name_d Billy, and a daughter, named Margie. Mr. Mccarroll is a member of the Methodist church, becoming a member in 1915 at Oak Grove (Attica). He is a well known citizen of the county. Has served in a number of places of public trust and is a Democrat and always takes a great interest in the p(?litical campaigns. It is a well known fact that when a man announces for office in Randolph county he does not wait long to _approach Uncle Wiley, ·with the expressed intention of attempting to "get him on his side." But unless he can prove his worth, he is not always successful in the undertaking. Mr. McCarroll is a good citizen, a good man and Ran­ dolph county is proud to claim him as one of her native sons.

THE "\V. L. (FAYETTE) MOCK FAMILY

"\V. L. l\rlock, always known as Fayette, married Miss Ganie Johnston January 19, 1888. To this union the following children grew to maturity: Evaline, who married Lewis \Vilson; Lehman, who married Gertie Mock; Grace, who manied Lester Johnson; Isabella, who married Buell Loftis; Jessie, who married Craw-ford Hamm; Hite, who married Essie Pitman; Abe, ,vho married Teula Lewis; Ouida, who married Robert Mattson, and Myra Lou, who married Ario Tyer. Mr. Mock passed away December 14, 1936, and Mrs. Mock makes here home at Maynard with her daughter, Myra Lou, who is a teacher in the Maynard school.

[316] FAMILY HISTORY

Mr. and Mrs. Mock reared their family on the old Mock homestead, on Mud creek just north of the old Ingrain ford on the creek. The family resided here many years and for a long period of time Mr. Mock operated a large store and also a postoffice which was known as Mock. _ The home has been known all through the years for its hospitality. All visitors were welcome and Sunday and special occasions usually found more "company" at Uncle Fayette and Aunt Ganie's home than any in the community. This family is descended from several of the very first families which came to this part of Arkansas during the days of early settlement. . \V. L. Mock is a great-grandson of l\1atthias Mock, who settled on Mud creek in 1815, only a short distance up the creek from the old family home. The grandfather of \V. L. Mock ,vas Thomas J. l\-f ock, who ,vas a son of Matthias and Leah Shaver Mock. Leah Shaver ·was a daughter of John Shaver, ,vho was also one of the first settlers on this creek. A sister of Matthias l\1ock, Matilda by name, married Mina­ tree Carter about 1821. They were the parents of R. J. Carter, ·who ·was the father of the late i\rlin Carter of Poca­ hontas. The ·wife of Thomas J. Mock is not known. Thomas J. l\fock was the father of Francis i\,farion Mock (who was kno,vn as General Mock) . Among the brothers of Thomas J. Mock ,vere Griffin C., who ,vas the father of the late Uncle Tom D. and other children and Isham J ., who was the father of the late Elias C. and T. L. (Tive) Mock, and other children. Francis Marion (General) Mock, married Jane Carter, who was descended from Minatree Carter, referred to above. To the union of General and Jane Carter Mock a num­ ber of children were born, among these ,vere A. T. (Gus), who married Ella Long and W. L. (Fayette), our subject. After the death of General Mock's first wife he married America Shaver, daughter of Peter Shaver, lvho was de-

(317] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY scended from the first John Shaver named· above. To this union two children were born. They are Otis M., now living in Pocahontas, and i\1rs. Notra Price of Jonesboro. lVIrs . .i\:Iock (Ganie Johnston) is a granddaughter of George Gregory Johnston and l\llary Burton Johnston, from whom all the Johnston's of this section of Arkansas descended. The father of l\frs. Mock was James F. Johnston, ,vhose brothers were Rev. Larkin F., Lewis B., W. P. G. (Green), Geo1ge H., and sisters Arena, ,vho married Rev. Jesse Rob­ inson and Sarah Jane ,vho married D. C. Moore. J a1nes F. Johnston married Martha l\,,lcDaniel and they became the parents of the following children: Gregory, Dock, Jess, \Villiam, Sidney, Lewis F., Arena ,vho married Tom Kerley; Ellen ,vho married Tive Mock and Ganie, the wife of Fayette Mock. The l\.fock family intermarried with several of the first families of the county. Among these are the Flecher, Stubble­ field, Nettles, Morris, Johnston, Johnson, Dalton, Carter and Shaver families. The Shaver•Mock•Johnston family is the county's largest related _family. The children of Fayette and Ganie Mock have generally adhered to the tradition of the family by marrying members of the old families of the county. Evaline married Lewis \Vilson whose parents, Johnny and Molly Murdock \Vilson, were both early settlers' children. Lehman married Girtie Mock, ,vhose parents, Thomas D. and Zilpha Dalton Mock represented two old families. Grace's husband, Lester J olm­ son, is a son of Tom and ~.finerva Carroll Johnson, ··whose families ,vould be eligible to join a century club. Hite married Essie Pitman. Her family is one of the oldest in the county and related to Spencers, Smiths and other early Tennessee residents. Buel Loftis, the husband of Isabella, represents the early Jones, Crossen, Loftis and other early comers to Little Black to-wnship. Jessie~s husband, Crawford .Hamm, claims his ancestry to the Hamm, Brown, \Vilson

[318] FAMILY HISTORY and other early "Columbia" ·settlers. Teula Lewis, the wife of Abe Mock, is descended from a family which came to old Lawrence county and settled at Davidsonville about 1812 .. Myra Lou's husband, Arlo Tyer is a member of the Tyer­ Vermilye family. Ouida's husband, Robert Mattson, is the only member of the family not native to Randolph county. Two outstanding characieristics of the Mock family is the inclination of different members of each generation toward the vocations of merchandising and school teaching. There has been merchants with Mock blood in their veins, in business in this section for a century and a long line of educators in this family signify their interest in education. The family religious affiliation all down through the years has been almost I 00 per cent with the Church of Christ, and early members of this family ,vere instrumental in the establishment of some of the first congregations of this church in Randolph county.

THE MARLETTE FAMILY·

The Marlette family is of Dutch descent. The ancestors of this family are reputed to have come to Pennsylvania from eastern Europe sometime near the close of the Revolution. From Pennsylvania the family came to the "\Vabash valley of southern Indiana about 1812. Epps Marlette was born in

Pennsvlvania• about 1810. He married NancvJ McDonald in Orange county! Indiana, about 1838. To this union "·as born the following children: John, who married .Anna Purcell in Gibson county, Indiana; David, who married, first, Sarah Spore in Gibson county, Indiana, and later married ~folly Parker in Randolph county, Arkansas; Chessley, ,vho married ~Jartha ~forris, sister of Jeff Morris of Randolph county; Isaac, ,vho married \Vilda Wallace, also of Randolph county; \Villiam, who married

[319) HISTORY OF RANDOLPH _COUNTY

Lula Lane; Alice and Perry, who never married. Alice died when a young woman and ·Perry lived about 60 years. _ The Marlette family came to Randolph county from Gibson county, Indiana, in the fall of 1879, in a wagon train, crossing the Mississippi at Bird's Point and on .do~ to this section over the old Military road. · The first night the family spent in this county was at the old Jarrett homestead. The next day they drove on down the road, through Pocahontas, to locate on the A. W. W. Brooks farm in Black river bottoms. After spending the winter there they decided to move back to the hills. Epps located near the .J arretts and Fosters and his ·son David lived his first year five miles north of Pocahontas· on the old Biggers farm on Knotts creek. In December of 1880, a cyclone ble,v down the house they were living in, but no one was injured. The next year the family moved to near the village of Attica, locating on Fourche, east of the town. Here Epps l\1arlette spent the remainder of his life. David moved up Fourche, ·and finally· located across Fourche ,vest of l\tliddlebrook, ,vhere he lived many years, dying in 1930. Chessley, who married Martha Morris, lived several years in the vicinity of -Ingram. They had t,vo chil­ dren who died ,vhen small.· Here he and his wife died a few years after marriage. Isaac, ,vho married \Vilda \Vallace of the same community, lived here a short time after his mar­ riage but moved to Oklahoma, locating in the vicinity of Bristo,v. Here he died in 1942. His family resides in that section. The eldest son, John, never lived in this county. He spent his life in the vicinity of Carmi and Crossville, Illinois. '\Villiam Ii ved for many years in the Attica vicinity, but moved to near Light, in Greene county, about 25 years ago: After Ii ving there a few years his health failed and h~ came back to the vicinity of Middlebrook. Here he died in 1933.

[320] FAMILY HISTORY

Perry, who _never married, living alone after the death of his parents. He· spent the· Iast known years of his life in Greene county, where he died about 1934. Epps Marlette and wife are buried in the Gross cemetery. He died in 1905 and his wife died in 1907. David Marlette and Sarah Spore ,vere married in Indiana in 1870. Sarah Spore was a daughter of \Villiam Spore and a .Miss Wade Spore. They were the parents of the following children: Pinck­ ney Monroe, who married Anna Grissom, daughter of Johp M. and Celia Poynor Grissom; Della (this author's mother), who married Elija~ F. Dalton, son of David and Christiana Everett Dalton; Dolphus S., ,vho married Laura Davidson, daughter of William and Amanda Davidson; Isaac Elvin, who married Josie D:ividson, sister of Dolphus' wife; \V. C. (Chessley), who married Lois Stuart (of Illinois), and Pearl, ,vho died young. _-· _ After the death of Sarah Spore, the first w_ife · of David Marlette, he married Molly Parker, daughter of James rat~er, native of eastern Randolph county. To this union was born three children, Arvil, who married Mina ·Davidson of Monette; Luther, ·who married Lola Dalton, daughter of Joseph and Dilla Grissom Dalton; and Lucy, who lives with her mother west of Middlebrook. David died in 1930. His first wife died in 1886. Both are buried in the Siloam cemetery near Middlebrook. Luther lives at Biggers. Arvil lived at l\fonette until 1943, when he moved to California where he died a short time after arriving in that state. P. M. (Monroe) died in 1939. His family lives in the county. The other· children of David J\'Iarlette live in Ran­ dolph county, except W. C., who lives part time in Michigan and at Success, Clay county. The family of Epps Marlette is the only family of this name which has ever lived in this section of the state.

[321] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

THE MAYNARD FAMILY

One of the pioneer families of Randolph county was the Maynards. The first Maynards to come here were three brothers, John, Stith and Thomas, and their families who came here from Tennessee, settling in the then, undeveloped part of the county where the thriving little town of Maynard is now located. The family is of French-English ancestry. John came in 1872 and Stith and Thomas in 1884. The town of Maynard derived its name from this enterprising family. John and Stith both served their county in the CiviJ War, John acquiring the office of captain. John was a pioneer in the mercantile business, having established the first store in Maynard, which he named "New Prospect." It was located on the hill where the old Maynard home now stands. He later moved it to a place nearer where the present business section is located. He also owned and operated an old-time tread,vheel cotton gin, which served the surrounding country at that early date. Stith and Thomas ·were engaged in farming and stockraising. John married Saily Adams of Ivlissouri, and to this union was born three children: Fayette, now of Mobile, Alabama; Eugenia, deceased ·wife of the late Dr. H. L. Throgmorton~ and John of Colera, Oklahoma. Stith married Elizabeth Tuck of Tennessee and to this union three children ,vere born: Ed R. of Tucson, Arizona; S. L. of Albuquerque, New· ~'1exico, and \'era, wife of Clifford Price of Pocahontas, Arkansas. Thomas ,vas married twice, first to lVIat Glasco of Ten­ nessee, and to this union six children were born: Thornton: deceased; Ethel, deceased, she was the wife of Robert Ander­ son; Toby, deceased; Mrs. C. E. \Vitt of Little Rock; Elvis of Maynard, and Eugene of Pine Bluff.

[322] FAMILY HISTORY

His first wife died in Tennessee before the family came here. His second wife was Lizzie Beemis of Kentucky-. ·To the last marriage three children were born; Almus, deceased; Ella, wife of Earle Richardson, no,v living in Texas, and Paul of Little Rock. These brothers were together in many things, but politically were different, John being a Democrat and Stith and Thomas, Republicans. These three brothers and their families were progressive, energetic Christian citizens, ever ready to help in any worth­ while project which ,vould make their community better or help their fellow man. They were all Missionary Baptists. John, Stith and their wives helping in the organiaztion of the Baptist church at Maynard, being charter members. Thomas and his wife joined later. They ,vere also members of the Masonic Lodge and Mrs. Stith Maynard was a members of Easter Star. These families were also interested in the educational and political growth of their community and county. Mrs. Thomas Maynard taught music for many years at Maynard. The Maynards are truly one of the best kno,vn families of Randolph county.

[323] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH. COUNTY

THE MARTIN FAMILY

James Martin ,vas born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1808, and died in Randolph county in 1863. The family came to the vicinity of St. Genevieve, Missouri, and lived a short time, coming on to Randolph county in 1833. The home of James l\fartin ·was in Columbia township and the place is still called l\1artin's Spring. The Ma.rtin family purchased this farm from Thomas Foster, who had settled here ::ibout 1820. Mr. Martin built a fine Southern sty1e home and developed the farm into a typical Southern plantation. Here the family lived many years. They were living here ,vhen the Civil ,var broke out. Two of the sons of the family died in service of the Confederacy. lt ,vas at the home of James l\1artin that Henry Wythe, brother of l\1rs. 1\-fartin, ivas killed by jayhawkers. The eldest daughter of James l\1artin married Capt. \Vibb Conner. Her name was V. Ellen. She lived to a ripe old age, dying at Reyno a few years ago at the home of her daughter, l\lrs. L. \V. Hogan. James l\1artin was appointed postmaster at Pocahontas in August, 1838. In 1842 he was elected to the office of county judge and served four years. Judge l\Jartin ,vas a man of means and a leading citizen of the county. He was identified with the affairs of the county for many years. Four of the sons of Judge Martin, Andre,v, Joseph, John F. and James, are remembered by many persons today as composing the firm of l\fartin Brothers, pioneer business men of the old to,vn of Reyno, before the coming of the Fisco railroad, ,vhich spelled death to the old town. It was here that one of the sons, Joseph, married Anne E. Reynolds, daughter of Capt. D. W. Reynolds, founder of the town, February 9, 1888. The mother of Mrs. Martin was Mary Ellis, who had married Captain Alvah G. Kelsey, the officer under whom Capt. Reynolds served in the Confederate Army.

[324] FAMILY HISTORY

After the death of Captain Kelsey she married D. W. Reyn­ olds. Joseph and Annie Reynolds Martin ,vere the parents of Lancelot R. (Lan tie) Martin of Pocahontas.. Other chil­ dren of this union were Lila, Edith, Thelma and Joseph. Lantie Martin married Ona Sallee, daughter of the late Joseph Sallee, well known farmer and manufacturer of Poca­ hontas. To this union was born two children, Joseph and Jean. Jean married C. E. Olvey, Jr. They are the parents of one child. Joe married Jo Ann Belford. C. E. is a son of Mr. and l\{rs. C. E. Olvey, Sr., of Har­ rison. The Olveys are leading people of Boone county. Mrs. Joe Martin is a daughter of J. B. and Grace Creason Belford of Corning. J. B. is a leading business man of that city and Mrs. Belford is a member of an ear1y Randolph county family. C. E. and Joe are both associated with Lantie in the lVIartin Insurance Agency of Pocahontas. Lantie Martin· bas long been one of the leading business men of Pocahontas. He is also known as one of the most civic-minded men that has ever lived in Pocahontas. .A.nytime there is a movement on foot for the advancement and betterment of the city you will find Lantie Martin, if not at the head of it, one of the major boosters. He is the head of the l\Iartin .A.gency i\·hich ,vas estab~ lished in 1908, and is one of the largest and most successful agencies in north Arkansas. He is also associated with the Pocahontas Federal Savings and Loan Association, and the Guaranty Investment Company, which are located in the same building lvith the ~Iartin ..Agency. The ~fartin and Reynolds families have been identified with the business and political history of Randolph county for over a century. Mrs.. Anne Martin, wido,v of Joseph ~fartin, Sr., is living in Pocahontas at the present time, in the old family home on Thomasville Avenue.

[325] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

JUDGE OSCAR PRINCE

Oscar Prince, Sr., is the grandson of Peter Prince and Mi~ Davis Prince, early settlers on Janes creek, in western Randolph county. The parents of Oscar Prince were Thomas J. Prince and l\t!alissa Bloodworth Prince. Thomas Prince ,vas born in Janes Creek to\\rnshi p and Mrs. Prince was born in Oregon county, Missouri. The parents of l\,f rs. Prince were Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Bloodworth, ,vho came to the Ravenden Springs community from Tennessee. Mrs. Thomas Prince was married to James Higginbotham before her marriage to Mr. Prince. To this union ,vere born R. L., Henry and Rosa (Henley) Higgin­ botham. After Mr. Higginbotham~s death she _married the father of our subject and they became the parents of four children, Oscar, Alfred, Ed and Birdie. Oscar Prince ,vas born December 13, 1890. He was married to Lockie Campbell, daughter of the late John D. and Beulah Brady Campbell. The Campbell family is one of the oldest in La,vrence county. Oscar and Lockie Prince are the parents of one child Oscar, Jr., ,vho has recently been discharged from three years service in the U. S. Army Air Corps, serving in the European theater. Oscar, Sr., is the present county judge of Randolph county, having entered the office January l, 1945, and recently received the Democratic nomination for a second term ,vithout opposition. This is the first time on record in the county ,vhere a county judge of Randolph county had the honor of being unopposed for his second term. Besides being county judge he is associated ,vith the son in the mer­ cantile, fanning and livestock business. Judge Prince has spent several years of his life as road contractor, besides dealing extensively in cotton farming and livestock raising. He is a member of the Arkansas Livestock Sanitary Com­ mission, this being his sixth year on this board. He has been

[3261 FAMILY HISTORY justice of the. peace se,·eral years, is a member of the Surridge School Board, and takes an active interest in all things of a civic nature. Judge Prince is ,vell known over the state and the Prince family ·is one of the leading families of the county.

THE A. F. RICKMAN FAMILY

A. F. Rickman, kno,\in during the past few years as "Uncle Frank," \Vas born on Janes creek in Randolph county, the son of John and Dicy Bellah Rickman. His parents both died before he can remember. He had two brothers, James, who lived near Ravenden Springs, and Levi, ,vho moved t(l Texas many years ago. For many years Frank Rickman has been kno,,'n as one of the best farmers in the county. He received very little schooling when young, but this did not keep him from being a success in life. l\1r. Rickman married Maud G. Wells, August 2, 1883. To this union ,vere born eight children. Seven are living no,v. They are, Daley, ,vho lives in Craighead county; Tom and Leo, ,vho reside in this county; 0. B. of Ravenden Springs, also of this county; and three daughters, Disa Coch­ ran, Lovis Peevyhouse and Johnnie Cochran, all of Craighead county. They h:ive 24 grandchildren living; of these, five grandsons served in \Vorld \Var II. The Rickman family are of the Church of Christ belief and affiliation, and are all good Democrats. One son, Leo, made the race for county treasurer in 1934, and carried more to,vnships than the ,vinner, ho,vever, losing two large tol\-nshi ps to the latter. He entered this race 3vo-ain in 1938., but withdrew on account of the condition of the health· of his aging parents.

[327] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Mrs. Frank Rickman is the daughter of John \Vells, who was born in \Vashington county, Missouri, January 4, 1821,. and ,vas brought to Randolph county by his parents the same. year. John \Vells married Harriet .. Alcorn, July 13, 1848. She ,vas the daughter of Isham Alcorn, one of the early settlers of this section, and was born on the farm where the· Rickmans no,v reside, February 5, 1828. The children of John and Harriet i\lcorn \Vells were: Margaret, ,vho mar­ ried Shelton \Vhite; Susan, who married James McLain; Thomas H., ·who married Nettie T,veedy, who died young. He later married Lively Dalton; Lola, who married Robert Stubblefield; 1\-Iollie, who married Rufus C. Dalton; James P ., William and Mrs. Rickman. The father of John Wells was Thomas \Velis, ,vho mar­ ried Barbra Mabrey. He was born in North Carolina in 1796 and she in Virginia in 1798, and died in Randolph county, Arkansas, in 1866 and 1869, respectively. 1\II r. and Mrs. Rickman celebrated their 63rd ·wedding anniversary recently.

THE RUFF FAJ\fILY

Dr. Redman Ren Ruff moved to Pocahontas from Hollow Rock, Tennessee, in I 866. In 1870 he moved to Pitman_ Ferry. He was born at Hollo,v Rock, Tennessee, April 25, 1831. His father, Major John Ruff, was born in North Carolina in 1770. The family originally came to Virginia from Scotland, in 1700, and then moved to North Carolina later. Dr. R. R. Ruffs mother was Chloe Eason. The Easons were natives of Virginia. They moved to Tennessee about 1775. Dr. Ruffs first wife was also an Eason. Four children were born to this union. Mrs. Leota Ruff Shemwell of Batesville, Arkansas, is the only one now living. She was born in June, 1860, at Hollo,v Rock, Tennessee. Dr. Ruffs

[3281 FA}.flLY HISTORY second wife was Amanda Wilson Legate, whom he married at Pitman in 1873. Her father ,vas Rev. John Tarpiey Legate, a Methodist preacher, born in Tennessee, October I 5, 1818, died at Pitman, March 15, 1871. Amanda Legate's mother v.1as Isabella Jennings Reeves, born January I 7, 1822, died March 21, 1860. Mrs. Ruff ,vas born October 21, 1848, in Tennessee, and died at Pitman, May 28, 1920. Dr. Ruff died at Pitman, September 21, 1898. Horace Ewing Ruff, son of Dr. R. R. and lVIrs. Amanda Ruff, was born at Pitman, July 15, 1873 ..A.ttended common schools and Southern Illinois Normal University, Carbon­ dale, Ill. Graduated fron1 the l\fissouri l\1edical College, no,v the Medical Department of Washington University, St. Louis, l\1issouri, March 26, 1894, ,vith the degree of M. D.

Dr. Horace E. Ruff first married Charity Brown, daugh­ ter of Frank and Amanda Bro,vn, October 6, 1895. She died at Pitman, December 11, 1905. To this union ·were born two children, Horace E,ving, Jr., July 2, 1899, and Flavia, July 16, 1897. Dr. Ruff ·was married a second time to Effie Agnes Lehman, daughter of John l\1ilton Clayton and Tommie Harris Lehman, at l\Iaynard, December 23, 1906. To this union ,rere born t,vo sons, Lehman Len RufC Nove1nber 3, I 907 at Pitman. He died at Heber Springs, 1\rkansas. :\ovember 13, 1913. John Legate Ruff, born at Heber Springs, June 15: 1913. Dr. Horace E,ving Ruff lV"as elected representative of Randolph county in the lo-t\·er house of the General A.s:­ sembly and serYed the terms of 1905 and I 907. He ,vas elected senator from the 26th district, composed of the counties of Cleburne, Con,vay, \'an Buren, and Searcy~ and served in the sessions of 1915 and 1917. In 1900 he ,vas chairman of the Randolph County !)emoc..Tatic Committee; a member of the ~.\rkansas State Democratic Central Com~ mittee and a delegate to, and attended every Democratic convention from Little Black toln1ship to· the National

[329] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Democratic Convention in Kansas City. The Ruff family are good Democrats and Methodists. Dr. Ruff was commissioned first lieutenant in the Medi­ cal Corps of the Arkansas National Guard, October 30, 1915; promoted to captain, June 19, 1916; major, January 8, 1917; on the Mexican border at Deming, New Mexico, with the first Arkansas Infantry,• 1916 and 19 I 7. Later served with the National Guard Di vision at Camp Beraregard, La., from November, 1917, to March, 1918. Major Ruff was sent overseas in May, 1918, where he joined the Third Division of the U. S. Army as surgeon of the 7t~ Infantry. He was in practically all the engagements fought by this U. S. Army. His outfit was in the Meuse-Argonne over 30 days. He ,vas wounded and gassed at Cunel, France, October 21, 1918. After t,vo month's hospitalization he rejoined his outfit at Andernach-on-the-Rhine and arrived at Camp Pike, Arkan­ sas, September I, 1919. He ,vas iater commissioner in the l\,1edical Corps, January 9, 1926. Colonel Ruff was recommended for the Distinguished Service Cross, received the Purple Heart, Order of the Silver Star. These n1edals ,vere publicly presented to Colonel Ruff by Colonel (no,v President) Harry Truman at Camp Pike, Arkansas. He also Vlas given a Mexican border medal and French l\fedal of Honor. After discharge from the Army, he was appointed general medical examiner for the U. S. \ 7eterans Bureau and served in the Little Rock regional office as examiner and chairman of the rating board for 10 years. He now resides at Thirteenth and McAlmost Sts., in Little Rock. Dr. Horace E. Ruff, Jr., the eldest son of Dr. Ruff, Sr., married Neecy \Vood of Strong, Arkansas. \Vas in the Navy during \Vorld \Var I. Has his A. B. degree from Hendrix College; his Masters degree from Louisiana State University and Doctor of Philosophy .from Ames, Iowa. He is now a professor of science at Louisiana Polytechnic Instiution, Ruston, Louisiana.

[330] FAMILY HISTORY

Flavia Ruff married Capt. William L. ThompsoA, Jr., at Camp _Beruregard, Louisiana, Christmas Day, 1917. · They have three children, William, III, Julia and _Rose:tnary. Captain Thompson and family live at Magnolia, Arkat)sas. His son William served in \Vorld War II, is marrie

SHRIDE FAMILY AND ANCESTRY

Arthur Monroe Shirde is the oldest son of D. H. Shride. He was born December 23, 1900, at \Virth, Sharp county, Arkansas. He is the grandson of the late J. M. and Sarah Francis Shride of Ravenden Springs, Arkansas. His mother was Zilla Belle White, daughter of the late Howell and Susan '\'Vhite, early residents of Randolph county. The brothers of Arthur M. Shride are Clifton of St. Louis, Missouri; Floyd of Manila, Arkansas, and Orville of Rector, Arkansas. His sister, Mrs. Monnie Bryan, lives near Dalton. The Shride family are descendants of European immi­ grallts who first settled in Pennsylvania. Howell "White ,vas a native of North Carolina.

[331] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Ruby Blanche, wife of Arthur :WI. Shride is a daughter of B. E. and Zilpha Chester Brown, and a granddaughter of the late George \V. and l\Iartha Brown. George W. Brown was born in Georgia, moving to Texas in an ox wagon, and later came to Randolph county, where he spent the remainder of his life. B. E. Bro,vn ,vas born in Texas, ~.\.ugust 5, 1872. He came with his parents to Randolph county, where he met hi~ wife, Zilpha, daughter of James and Caroline Chester. Mrs. Shride has four sisters, l\tlrs. Henry King, Mrs. W. T. Foster, Mrs. Hershel Hack·worth, all of Dalton, and Mrs. L. C. ~'lcllroy of Little Rock. A. M. Shride and Blanche Bro,vn, teachers in the public schools of Randolph county, were married September 18, 1925. They have two daughters, Peggy and Janell. Peggy was born November 7, 1931. She likes music, books and outdoor sports. She is no,v a junior in high school. Jan ell was born February 5, 1938. She is in the fourth grade and likes books, bicycling, boatriding and both indoor and outdoor games. Arthur has ser,·ed the public in various capacities. In addition to his regular profession as a teacher, he has served as school director, justice of the peace, chairman of the Randolph County Teacher's .Association, a member of the County Equalization Board, assistant tax assessor and barber. The family has made Randolph county its home, with the exception of t,\·o years spent in Detroit, hlichigan, during t..11.e recent ,var. This family is related to many of the first families ,vho settled on Elevenpoint river.

[332] FAAllLY 11.ISTORY

THE \VILLLAM TIPTON STUBBLEFIELD­ N ANCY DALTON STUBBLEFIELD FAMILY

\Villiam Tipton Stubblefield and Nancy J. Dalton were married February 25, 1880. The former is descended from one of the very first families w·hich settled on Elevenpoint river. He is a grandson of Fielding Stubblefield, who settled on this stream at an early date, probably coming here with his father and other members of this family before 1820. When the first courthouse was built at Pocahontas, Field­ ing Stubblefield was one of the public building commission­ ers. Another men1ber of this family, Coleman Stubblefield, -,vas a member of the Terri t.orial Legislature from old Law­ rence county in 1829. The parents of our subjects were Tipton Stubblefield and Sarah Garrett Stubblefield, who ,vere married Septem­ ber 8, 1858. Our subject ,vas the only child of this union. After the death of Tipton Stubblefield, his wife married Felix Mock and they became the parents of t,vo sons, Tom and Jack l\iock. A sister of Tipton Stubblefield married Lew·is Dalton, January 4, 1860. Her name ,vas Sarah .Anne, but was known as Aunt Sally. A cousin of "\Villiam Stubblefield, Jeff D. Stubblefield, married Zilla Dalton. daughter of \Villiam Dalton. The Garrett family ,vas French. Thev came to America . ' as refugees of the French Revolution. _ \Villiam Tipton Stubblefield was born August 3, 1860. and died in _i\.ugust,_ 1941. He and ~ ancy J. Dalton were the parents of seven children. They are Rufe, ·who married Katie Cohn; Sarah, who married Thomas Carroll; La,vrence, who married Elvie Magruder; NI yrtle, ,;vho married M }Tt Ben­ nett; Mara, ,vho married Leonard Crews; Orlean, ,vho mar~ ried ~fajor Christian, and Thomas and Pearl, who are not rnarried. There are_ 20 grandchildren no,v living.

[333] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Mr. Stubblefield was a learned man. He was known to have been one of the best authorities on county government in the state. He served the county as tax assessor in 1892-3, and was auditor for the county many years. For many years this family had more public school teachers than any family in the county. It ,vas a common saying in Randolph county for many years, "If you want to know anything about the records of the county, see Bill Stubblefield." The family lived at \Vann Springs many years; moving to Pocahontas about 1905. Uncle Bill and Aunt Nancy kept open house and.hundreds of people enjoyed the hospitality of this home. She ,vas a good cook and was always courteous and cheerful toward their guests. Nancy J. Dalton Stubblefield is a descendant of one John Dalton, who was born in Ireland and came to the United States about 1760. He first settled at Dalton, Georgia, and from there the family moved to North Carolina, Virginia, and later to Kentucky. John Dalton served in the Revolu• tionary ,var. After the close of the Revolution he moved with his family to lvladison county, Missouri. From here he came on down into Ripley county, where he spent the remainder of his life. This was about 1812. • He setled on Fourche Dumas creek at what is still known as the Dalton lvlill ford, ,vhere the old Warm Springs-Doni• phan road crosses this creek. He and other members of the family lie buried out in the bottom field near the present ford. John Dalton was the father of Elijah, Jack, David, Maria and other children. Elijah was the father of Le,vis Dalton and other children. Jack ,vas the father of UForg" Dalton, who was the father of Dr. J. \V. Dalton late of this county. Maria married James Keel. David married Priscilla Dennis of Greenville, Missouri, in 1826. They were the parents !)f another Elijah, another David, Sarah who married George Matney, Susanna who married William Cross, John who

[334] FAMILY HISTORY died in the Civil War, Nancy who married Harrison Davis, Ruth who married James Parker, Priscilla who married John Bond and David ,vho first married Christiana Everett. Elijah, son of David Dalton and Priscilla Dennis Dalton, was the father of Nancy Dalton Stubblefield, one of the subjects of this sketch. This Elijah Dalton ,vas born in southern Ripley county, Missouri, October 28, 1829. He married Grace Jane Head in 1857. They ,vere the parents of the follow:ing children besides Nancy Stubblefield, our subject. They were John C., who first married Susan Poynor and later Sally Spencer; James, ,vho married Nora Mcllroy (who married Joseph Dalton after James died); Mary, who married William Mcllroy; Sarah l\f., who married \V. A. Holt; Elijah A., who married Ida Bell Mock, and Rufus, who married Daisy Do\vney. The mother of our subject was, as stated above, Grace Jane Head, who ·was a daughter of Alexander and Elizabeth Head of \Vayne county, Missouri. Mrs. Head's maiden name was Clubb. Elijah Dalton died in 1906 and his wife died some IO years previous. Nancy Dalton Stubblefield, our subject, died June 14, 1936. The sponsor of this article, l\lirs. M yrt Bennett, is a daughter of William T. and Nancy Dalton Stubbefield. l\frs. Bennett was born February, 17, 1893, her husband, Myrt Bennett, was born November 3, 1891. They are the parents of one son, \Villiam Myrt, Jr., who was born January 12, 1920. The son has recently been discharged from the U. S. Navy, where he served from August, 1942, to February 3, 1946. He was a lieutenant junior grade, and served as air traffic controller on the aircraft carrier "Intrepid," and was also an officer on an LST. Myrt Bennett is the son of Henry-S .. Bennett and Sadie Pratt Bennett, who were married July 20, 1878, and lived south of Wann Springs.. ·

[335] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH .COUNTY

Both Mr. and Mrs. Bennett are former Randolph county school teachers, but for several years ~:Ir. Bennett has been engaged in the mercantile business at Biggers. He also o,vns considerable real estate. His business is located at present in the three-story Biggers building, ,vhich he purchased from the Biggers family in 1945. He does a general furnishing business and has one of the best locations in the county~ The Bennett family are early residents of the central part of the county.

THE EUGENE G.ARDINER SCHOONOVER FAMILY

lviiss Estelle \Vaddle and Eugene Gardiner Schoonover \vere married June I 0, 1896, both of them being members of old and leading families of Randolph county. Eugene G. Schoonover was a grandson of Daniel. and Elizabeth Jacks Schoonover, natives of Pennsylvania. Jacob Schoonover ,vas the son of Daniel and the father of Eugene. Jacob Schoonover can1e to Arkansas in 1858, first settling in the to,vn of l\'larion, but at the outbreak of the Civil \Var he ,vas living in Randolph county and joined the Confederate

.A.rmvJ under Col. Robert G. Shaver, at Pocahontas. He ,vas married to l\Iartha J. \Vear of Pittsto,vn, Pennsylvania, in 1870. To this union fi,·e children ,vere born, Eugene, Herbert \V., Adelaide Virginia, and Parke and v·ista, nvins, the latter dying in infancy. Herbert ,,;as never man-ied; .Adelaide married Rev. \V. R. Bennett and had nvo children, Katherine and \Villiam R., Jr. l\Iartha \Vear Schoonover died Decem­ ber 22, 1878, and her children ,vere taken by Jacob Schoon• over's various sisters in Ne,v Jersey and Pennsylvania, ,vhere they were reared to maturity and only Eugene and Her_bert ever returend to Arkansas to.make their homes. On January · 5, 1882, Jacob Schoonover married Miss Ella Bolen, daughter

[336] FAMILY HISTORY pf Capt. J. N. Bolen, a former newspaperman and posti;naster of Pocahontas, and l\·1ary Caroline Bolen, later affectionately kno,vn as ·'Granny," who died in the year 1941 at the age of l 04 years. Jacob and Ella Schoonover had three children, Robert N., Jacob and lVIary, Jacob dying at the age of 15 years and Mary becoming the wife of Ulric H. Reynolds. Jacob Schoonover ,vas engaged in the mercantile business ·in Pocahontas for several years, but was elected to the office of- circuit and county clerk in 1876 and served six years in this capacity. He ,vas a l\fason. Ulric Reynolds died in 1923, leaving tlvo children Ulric, Jr., and Curtis Dennis. Both ~erved in Worid War II and are no,v living in California. Eugene Gardiner Schoonover ,vas born in Pocahontas September 30, 187 I, and died February 5, 1944. Shortly before his death it ,vas said that he ,vas the oldest man living in Pocahontas \\'ho was born there. For more than 50 years he was a member of the Randolph County Bar. ,vas c9nsidered t~e most eminent attorney ever produced in Randolph county and had a statewide reputation for legal learning. ~e ,vas graduated from the La,v School of the University of Nlichigan in ~893. He ,vas a member of the l\!Iethodist church and a Royal Arch l\fason. He ,vas a Past -1\Jaster of Randolph Lodge No. 71. · - Estelle \Vaddle Schoonover, on her paternal side, is a granddaughter of Dr. Jacob \Vaddle and Sarah Elizabeth .Crepps \Vaddle, ,vho ,vere natives of Virginia and Kentucky. Her maternal grandparents ,vere Adolphus H. and l\fary A. j\ifcElrath Kibler, both of ,vhom came to Randolph county in 1856 from North Carolina. i\.dolphus Kibler ,vas county -treasurer from 1878 to 1886. He ,vas a ~fethodist and a ~Jason. His parents ,vere ~lichael and Catherine Lorance Kibler. -__: :Dr;. Jacob and Sarah Elizabeth \Vaddle had nvo children, -\Villiam H. \Vaddle (father of Mrs. Schoonover), and Isa- _bella, ,,rho ,vas the first 1vife of John P.. Black. After the death of Dr. ,vaddle, his 1vido,v married .\Villiam A. Hamil

.[337] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY and they became the parents of Robert N. Hamil and Kate Hamil Henderson. Adolphus Kibler and wife were the parents of seven children, Hattie, who married Dr. Crosby; Alice, who mar­ ried Dr. "\Vise of Greene county; Ada, who died when 17 years of age; George, ,vho married Louisa Bollinger; an infant named Willie; Bettie Ida, who died in infancy, and Augusta L., who married "\Villiam H. "\Vaddle to become the mother of Estelle Schoonover. "'\Villiam H. \Vaddle and Augusta Kibler were married April 4, 1867, and were the parents of six children, as fol­ lows: John A., who died in infancy; Jacoo Adolphus, Wil­ liam Walter, who died July 14, 1904 at age 26; Gordon Kibler, who died ,vhen four years of age; Mary Ives and Estelle. William H. "\Vaddle died December 29, 1919, and his wife, Augusta, died in 1930, each at age of 82. Mr. "\Vaddle was a leading merchant of Pocahontas in the late 60's and early 70's. After this time he was prominent in insurance and real estate business. He was an Odd Fellow and member of the Methodist church. Mrs. "\Vaddle was also a ~lethodist and was active in church work as long as she was able. She fell, breaking her hip in 1912, and ,vas never strong afterwards. Jacob A. \Vaddle resides in Pocahontas at the- present time, with his ,vife, the former Mayme Clopton, whom he married in 1920. olary Ives married Harvey Midkiff in 1903. Mr. ~fidkiff died in 1941. The widow lives in Brinkley, Arkansas. They were the parents of the following: William Gordon, Mary Afton, Samuel \Vaddle, Richard H., James P., Thomas \Voodrow and John Harvey. Four children were born to the union of Eugene Gardiner Schoonover and Estelle Waddle. Martha Sylvesta and Eu­ gene McDowell died in infancy in 1897 and 1899. William Jacob was born August 27, 1903, and Wear Kibler on

[338] FAMILY HISTORY

March 18, 1910. Jacob is a practicing attorney in Poca­ hontas, where he has been so engaged for 21 years. He was graduaied from the University of Arkansas in 1923 and also from his father's alma mater, the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, in 1926. He married Miss Verma Decker, in June, 1932. She is the daughter of Judge Joe S. and Oma Pickett Decker. ·rhey have one daughter, Adelaide Vir­ ginia, born May 17, 1933. Jacob Schoonover is a Mason; a Past Master, and also has been secretary of the local lodge for years. Wear Kibler Schoonover, unmarried. \Vith the excep• tion of three and one-half years in the U. S. Navy, has been an attorney in the solicitor's office, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C., for more than l O years. He attended the Unh·ersity of Arkansas for seven years and was graduated lvith honors from both the Literary and Law School. He attained national prominence in athletics, having been selected on the All-America football team in 1929, and was an all-conference performer in basketball, and also a member of the University basebail and track teams. In 1930 he accompanied a group of noted football players to Holly­ wood, where they made the picture "Maybe Ifs Love," which ,vas shown in all leading theaters in the nation. He was a lieutenant commander when discharged from the Navy. Eugene Schoonover died in February, 1944. Mrs. Schoon­ over still Ii ves in the old home in Pocahontas. She is a mem­ ber of the ~Iethodist cl1urch and is active in religious and civic activities.

[339] HISTORY OF .RANDOLP.H'"COUNTY

S. A. (DORE) SMITH

S.. A. (Dore) Smith was born April 18, 1882, in Terre Haute, Indiana. l\faud L. Murdock was born June 25, 1884, at Oxford, Arkansas. This couple ,vere married l\farch 4, 1904. The father and mother of S. A. Smith ,vere James Madi• son Smith, born in 1856, at Frankfort, Kentucky, and died July 4, 1918, at Datto, Arkansas, and Maria E. Herrington, born January 20, 1859, died February 15, 1905 at Datto, Arkansas . ...fhe family of S. A. Smith moved from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Greenville, Illinois, in 1884. The family lived there 17 years, moving to Greenville, Missouri, in 1901. The next year, in 1902, they moved to Datto, Arkansas. In 1905, the year after their marriage, ~Ir. and Mrs. Smith moved to St. Louis, where S. A. took up an apprenticeship in the monument trade. They moved to Pocahontas in 1907 and have resided here ever since. Politically, ivir. Smith has ahvays been a Democrat. Religiously he first joined the ivlethodist Church in child­ hood. i\fter his marriage he became a member of the Church of Christ. This is the church affiliation of the family, both ivir. and l\frs. Smith being consistent members. Before becoming interested in the monument business ~Ir. Smith served 12 years as a baker. ~laud L. ~Iurdock is a daughter of James Murdock and ~Iartha \ Vallace ~I urdock. James 1furdock ,vas born in the state of Georgia and came first to ~fissouri ,vith the Hamilton family, ,vho adopted him after the death of his parents. He lived a short time in Eastland county, Texas, but died in \Veber Falls, Oklahoma, in 1897. ~Irs. Nlurdock is still living at the present time, in the home of her daughter, -~frs. Smith, in Pocahontas~ at the age of 86. Her father was

(340] FAMILY HISTORY

Silas Wallace, ,vho lived in Siloam township, this county, about 40 years ago. There were 10 children in the Murdock family, four boys and 5ix girls. There ,vere seven children in the James Madison Smith family, four girls and three boys. S. A. Smith and Maud L. Nlurdock are the parents of the following children: Cordia, born March 12, 1905; Henley, born March 21, 1909; Burrus, born May 30, 1912; and Lucille, born May 11, 1914. Lucille died May 6, 1946. Cordia marrieJ Abe Hepner, April 16, 1944. She has two children by a former marriage, Jeanne and Patsy. Patsy married B. E. Foster in 1946. Henley married Mary Lou Stricklin, June 30, 1938. Burrus married Earlene Weir, Oc­ tober 13, 1939. They have one child, Dianne. Lucille mar­ ried Elmer Bowen, February 1, 1932. They were the parents of one son, Joe. Lucille and family lived at Jonesboro at the time of her death. Henley and Burrus are the o\\~ners of the Imperial Theater in Pocahontas~ and have made an outstanding suc­ cess in this business. Cordia now lives in Indiana. ~fr. and Mrs. Smith recently moved into their new home, on the Dalton road near the Baptist College. Until this year Mr. Smith was engaged in the monument business, which he had folloiv-ed several years. The Smith family is ,vell known and a highly respected family of Pocahontas, where they have lived 39 years.

t341] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

THE SHAVER FAMILY

The Shaver family is one of the largest which has lived in Randolph county. Being one of the first in the county, they have intermarried with many of the other first families, the result of which is that many persons in this section of the state today have Shaver blood in their veins who have varied family names. There are three "families" of the Shavers in this section of the state who trace their ancestry tp a common source. One of these is the family now represented in Sharp and Fulton counties. Another is the Shaver family which settled in the extreme lo,ver end of Cherokee Bay, soon after l 800~ Col. Robert G. Shaver of Civil War fame ,vas a member of the Sharp county Shavers. Shaver's Eddy on Black river about IO miles above Pocahontas is near the first home of the Cherokee Bay Shavers. This is just south of the lower end of Cherokee Bay. Here Michael, Daniel, Jacob \V. and other Shavers lived around 1820 or before. This branch of the family is closely related to the Shavers of which this article ,vill deal. John Shaver came to Randolph county from Georgia about 1828, after other members of his family had already settled here. He settled in ,vhat is now possibly Ingram township, ~here he lived the rest of his life, dying in 1850. He was married in 1823 to Nancy Cook, before coming to this county. To this union was born 11 children, eight reaching maturity. They ,vere \Villiam, Robert, James F., Alexander, Martha ,vho married C. Johnson; Caroline, who married John Johnson; Nancy, who married Jesse John­ son; John, who ,vas killed at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862, and Peter. William was a minister of the Church of Christ, as was Peter. The two brothers organized and preached to some of the first congregations of this church in north Arkansas.

(342] FAMILY HISTORY

There is in this section of the state today descendants of all the children of John and Nancy Cook Shaver, named above, especially that of James_ F. and Peter. The children of James· F ., who married Elizabeth Waddle, were: Alexander, Jacob, J. H., Louis, James, Matilda, who married Jeff Morris; Sarah, who married Eli Morris; Rufus L.-, Peter M., W. M., Joseph A., and Daisy, who married Lee Bolen. Peter Shaver married Lucinda Waddle, a sister of James F. Shaver's wife. The parents of Elizabeth and Lucinda Waddle were Henry Waddle and Sarah Biggers Waddle. They were mar­ rie~ in 1836. Mr. \Vaddle came to this county from Ten­ nessee in 1832. Besides the wives of the Shaver brothers, they were the parents of the following children: Sarah, who married (M uxy) Ji1n Johnson; Susan, ,vho married David Roberts; Caroline, ,vho married Vincent Se­ graves; Marietta (Aunt Queen), who married Frank Hawk and T. J. Tiner; Matilda, Jefferson, James and George. Peter Shaver married Lucinda vVaddle in 1853. To this union was born the follo,ving children: Louvenia, ,vho mar­ ried Alexander Davis; Jane, who married J. B. Long; Amer­ ica, who married General ~lock; Susan, who married James Ed,vards; Nancy, who married Alfred Pa}ne; Robert D., \Villiam (twins), G. R., Joseph and A. B. (Robert, \Villiam and Joseph died young). The only living members of this family at this time are Mrs. Edwards, G. R. and A. B. Mrs. Edwards lives in Clay county; G. R. (Ran) lives on the site of old Ingram (Goober­ hull) , the old Shaver homstead, and A. B. lives in Poca­ hontas. A. B. is a minister of the Church of Christ and has spent many years in faithful service of the cause of Chris~. A. B. Shaver and Martha Fowler were married in July, 1897. To this union were born eight children, six sons and two daughters. They are, Horace, who married Glen Kerr;

[343] HISTORY OF RA:NDOLPH COUNTY

Hardy, ,vho married -....t\.my Ford; \:Villie, ,vho marred LiHy Rice; Carl (deceased) ; Curtis and Ario, who have recently been discharged from service in \Vorld War II, they are not married; Florence, n1arried \:Valter- l\Iays and Hass~l_ ~~J!ied Delbert Johnson. _,\_ B. Shaver entered the ministry when he was 25 years 0£ age. During these long years of service for his Master, he has baptised over 4,000, held over 3,000 funeral services and performed over 2,500 marriage ceremonies. He has-the honor of performing the first marriage ceremony in the new Ran­ dolph county courthouse. There are about 35 active congreagtions of the Church of Christ in the county and Eld. A. B. Shaver has the dis­ tinction of being instrumental in the establishment of as many as 20 of them. He has also met in public discussion 10 times. Louvena, daughter of Peter and Lucinda \Vaddle Shaver, a sister of Eld. Shaver named above, married Alxender Davis. a native of Illinois, in 1876. She ,vas born December 23, 1854. l\1r. Davis died April 22, 1916. lVIrs. Davis died April 28, 1942. To this union ,vas born t-hree sons and one daughter. They ,,·ere G. G., A. B., J. B., and Essie ~fay. J. B. (Baxter) married Emma \Vright, daughter of George \V. \Vright. They ,vere the parents of two childrenr Charles E., a barber of Coming, and Lessie Mae~ ,vho mar­ ried George Guyns. She also lives at Coming. A. B. (Amos) married Ganie l\Iock, daughter of Isham and Elizabeth ~-!orris l\1ock. They live in Pocahontas. They are the parents of four children, L.\rvil C., who recently re.: turned from overseas service in the German area; ~-Iarie, who married Fred Cousins. Her husband also is a veteran of \Vorld \Var II; Lowell R., ,vho married Jessie Long, daugh­ ter of Rayburn and Vada Long. Lo,vell also served in the late ,var, in the Japan area; .i\.thlene, unmarried at home.

[344] FA.MILY HISTORY

Essie Davis married Press Ramsey, both are deceased, as is one of the four childr~n. The living children are, Gladys, who married Martin Fowler; Charlie, who married Laura Hayes; Jessie, who married Burley J. Sutherland, and Beu­ lah, who is deceased. G. G. (Green) married Nettie J. Starling, August 12, 1900. Mrs. Davis was a daughter of George W. and Fronia Howard Starling. They were the parents of four children. Three died in infancy. One, Rector L., lives in Pocahontas, and is a barber by trade. Rector married Ada Spikes, daughter of Jack W. and Ina Johnson Spikes. Rector and wife have one son, Henley Leland. Nettie Davis died October 12, 1944. G. G. survives her. He lives with his son in Pocahontas at the present time. Green Davis is a native of the Ingram-Palestine com­ munity where his maternal ancestors (the Shaver family) have lived for a century and a quarter. He served for many years as justice of the peace of Ingram township, and othe1~ official capacities. Since the death of his ,vife he has resided in Pocahontas, where he is now serving his second year as deputy tax assessor of Randolph county. G. G. is noted for his penmanship, being possibly the best Spencerian pen­ man in the county. During his younger days he also built up quite a reputa­ tion as a "southpa,vH pitcher on the Ingram ball team, which for many years was one of the best in the county. This family history article ,vas sponsored by Eld. A. B. Shaver and G. G. Davis.

(345] MR. AND 1\IRS. WILLIAM HENRY JOHNSTON

UNCLE WILLIAM AUNT MARTHA

Top: September 8, 1878 Bottom: September 8, 1928

[3461 FAMILY HISTORY

THE SPIKES FAMILY

(Contributed by Ben Johnston)

\Villiam (Pappy Billy) Spikes, born in I 784, and died in I 855. The family is of English descent. Part of \Villiam Spikes' family ,vas born in or near Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1815 they moved to Graves county, Tennessee, remain­ ing here only five years, landing in 1820 in the foothills of the Ozarks, on a beautiful creek ·which he named "Ten­ nessee," at a point near ,vhere the Ingram postoffice is no\V located. He built his log residence near an everflo,ving spring, and in 1828 homsteaded th~ land. In I 830 he built his first church on this land and named it "Mount Pisgah." This house soon proved to be too small, on account of the increase of ne,v settlers, and a larger one ,vas built in 1840. \Villiam Spikes died in 1857 but the settlers continued to fill this area and a third church ,vas built between I 880 and I 885 by his family and friends. All these bui]dings ,verc built by donation labor. Just ,vho did the ,vork on the first two is not kno,vn. Of the last building, ,ve have the names of \Villiam Deaver, James Hum, James Barnett, Isaac and Thomas Hopkins, Frank Tiner and Nathaniel and Jackson Cox, in addition to the Spikes family. Of course, there are other names ,vho assisted as it was a large ,veil-built frame building ,a credit to any rural community. Possibly Rev. Larkin F. Johnston, my paternal grand­ father, a young minister from Tennessee, ,vas the first resi­ dent preacher for this church. \Villiam Spikes first married Elizabeth Biddle, of Scotch descent, and to this union were. born Jesse, Joseph, William, Nancy and Martha. His second wife was l\falinda Masterson, and to this union was born Flin, Samuel, Elizabeth and Mary.

[347] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Due to the time involved and the fact that the family is so badly scattered, I will confine this article from here on, to my own branch of the family tree. Jesse Spikes was born April 2, 1808 and died, January 7, 1887. He was my grandfather. The information included herein is taken principally from an article prepared by my mother, about the family, for her children, kinsmen and friends. Jesse Spikes first married Nancy Copeland and to this union were born, William Anthony, Nancy, Joseph Wash­ ington, David Lafayette, James Monroe, Jesse Hezekiah and Elizabeth. His second wife, my grandmother, was Eliza Stone, maiden name Kersey. She had two little girls, Mary and Octava, daughters of her first husband, Rufus Stone, another Tennessean. To the union of Eliza Stone and Jess~ Spikes were born Ben F., John W., Martha a_nd Malissa. James, William and David were Confederate soldiers. James died in Bowling Green, Kentucky; William in Little Rock, Arkansas, and David soon after he returned home from the war, from exposure during service. Nancy mar­ ried Tone Carroll; .Jostph W. married Judy Nelson: Jesse H. married Nancy J. Early; Elizabeth married John R. Davis; Ben F. married Sarah P. Dalton; John W. married Tu~ Foster; Malissa married Rufus C. Dalton and Martha, my mother, married \\Tilliam Henry Johnston. My father and mother were married September 8, 1878, to ,vhich union were horn Ben E. (the writer); Anna E., Magdeline, and Martha Ella. Father was horn January 5, 1852 and died December 20, 1929. Mother was born Au­ gust 2, 1859 and died February 10, 1938. Anna E. was born March 1, 1886 and died July 14, 1908. The Spikes family, generally have been tillers of th~ soil, however several have been public officials of Randolph county and elsewhere. Some are teachers, doctors, preachers~ lawyers, merchants, etc.

(348] FAMILY HISTORY

In the deed records of Randolph county will be found proper deeds for the four-acre church lot and the four-acre cemetery lot which was deeded to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and for use as a cemetery, by Jesse and Samuel Spikes. Soula M. Spikes lives on a little farm nearby and takes great interest in the property. Some day, who knows, when the cycle is turned, but what this no,v almc,st abandoned section may again become the pride of the county, and some far-seeing future "Pappy Billy" lead the ,vay to the erection of a shrine in the form of a church, school or hospital, on this beautiful little four acres of gently rolling primitive land. Then this courageous ~pioneer can look back with pride to this, once wilderness spot, which he and his neigh hors dedicated as a pioneer community, a better place to live and enjoy God's blessings. ~Ben Johnston.

THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN TAYLOR FA?vIILY

Benjamin Franklin Taylor was born September 9, 1860, the son of Alexander Taylor and Martha Dismang Taylor, near Supply, Randolph county, Arkansas. He married Martha Ellen l\foore in September, 1880. She w·as a daughter of D. C. and Sarah Johnston Moore. l\frs. Taylor \\·as born January 12, 1859, and died July 26, 1929, in St. Louis and was buried at Poynor, l\fissouri. Elders \V. A. Goodwin and T. E. Sherrill of the Church of Christ conducted services. To this union was born five children, three girls, Francis Evaline, born November 3, 1882; Alice, born l\farch 31, 1884; Jessie May, born March 3, 1886; nvo boys, Robert Lee, born April 13, 1888, and Benjamin Palmer, born Oc­ tober 19, 1892 .. Mr.. and ~Irs. Taylor moved over the line into Ripley county, Missouri, in September, 1892, ,vhere they cleared a large farm and reared their family.

[349] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

The father of Benjamin Taylor was born November 19, 1823, and died in 1880. His mother died in 1859. To this union was born five children. They were, Sarah Francis, born in 1850; General Marion, born in 1852; Albert Ander­ son, born in 1856, our subject, and an infant named Ollie. After the death of his first ,vife, the father of our subject married Miss Candy Pearce and to this union ,vas born three boys, Columbus, Andrew and Henry, all deceased. The grandfather of Benjamin Taylor was one Asa Tay­ lor, ,vho moved from Graves county, Kentucky to settle near Supply, Ark. Asa Taylor was born February 5, 1801, and died in 1865. His wife was born November 29, 1803, and died about 1856. Asa Taylor ,vas married a second time July 3, 1858, to Miss Nancy Ainley. \Villiam Torrence Johnson, who ,vas the father of the late Uncle John A. Johnson, was a son-in-law of .A.sa Taylor. The elder Johnson settled near Asa Taylor in 1885. The Taylor family is of Scotch descent and a majority of this family are members of the Church of Christ. This family, together ,vith the Cox, Johnson and other families .established the old Glaze Creek Church of Christ, ,vhich is still in existence and one of the very first churches in this county. Our subject, Benjamin Taylor, states that ",vhile none of the family have been kno,m to tum the ,vorld upside do,\rn they have been honest and I never kne,v of one of them going to jail." He remembers ,vhen almost every­ thing used in the home and othenvise, ,vas home-made. He states that he can remember, as a boy, ,vatching his father grind the tanbark for use in making his o,vn leather, ,vith ,vhich he made shoes for the family and neighbors. \\?hen the doctor ,vas called in that period, ~ir. Taylor states that he brought a "saddle bag full of roots and herbs ,vhich he bre·wed up his remedies of, and after treating the patient, charged a dollar and ,vent home." In givin~ us this family history article of his family, ~Ir. Taylor dedicates it to the pioneers ,vho, as he states it, "I hold a ,varm spot in my

[350] FAMILY HISTORY heart for all those old pioneers, including my ancestors, who fought through thick and thin, so we might have a Christian nation to live in." As a parting admonition to his children and grand­ children he states, "I am writing this, in order that you and your children may know more about your foreparents than we at present do. Also, in closing, I admonish you, girls ,vhen you start out in life and choose a companion, resolve never to allow lips ,vhich touch liquor to touch yours, and to the boys, remember that boys who go to Sunday school regularly seldom ever go to prison for committing crimes."

\VILLIA~f JEFFERSON lVIcCOLGAN (Contributed to his memory, by the Author)

The subject of this sketch ,vas born in south-central Illi­ nois about 1856. The ,vriter _kno,vs very little about his family, except that he had a sister, l\'frs. Tom J. Buck, ,vho lived at Reyno several years and a brother, \Vesley, ·who was a pron1inent citizen of Dexter, Missouri, 25 years ago. "Uncle Jeff," as he ,vas familiarly kno,vn, married a cousin of the late Judge J. \V. l\ileeks, long a resident of Pocahontas, and ,vas the father of one daughter, ,vho married Rolla Irvin. Uncle Jeff ,vas an early educator of \Vayne county, Illinois. Judge Meeks ,vas a pupil of his. He ,vas also a schoolmate of the late Senator \Villiam Borah of Idaho, '\\rho ,vas reared at Fairfield, Illinois. Uncle Jeff ,vas one of the commission­ ers ·who designed and built the present courthouse at Fair­ field, ,vayne county, Illinois. Uncle Jeff l\IcColgan came to Reyno about 1910 and stayed a ,vhile and then came back in 1924, to spend the rest of his life there, ,vhere he died in :\larch, 1935. He ,vas mayor at l\'Iorehouse, l\.fissouri, ·when that to,\-n w·as a much larger to,vn than Sikeston. .A.fter coming to Reyno, he served

[351] HISTORY OF RAND.OLPH COUNTY as mayor for about six years and was one of the best officials which this town ever had. It was the privilege of the writer to serve as recorder of the to,vn at the time Uncle Jeff was mayor. He dealt justice to all ,vho came into his court "without fear or favor" in the fullest sense of the word. \Ve ·served during the hectic days of the bootlegging heyday. While other folks would have made a lot of enemies, Uncle Jeff had a way that kept most of the folks as his friends. One fellow who often found himself in the mayor's court, said: "\Ve cuss Uncle Jeff all winter and then vote for him in the spring." In memory of one of the greatest characters I ever met, I dedicate this brief article to the memory of William Jeffer• son McCo]gan, pioneer educator, public official, and my departed friend.

EUGENE THOMPSON

Louis Thon1pson, gTeat-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, ,vas born in lr(land in 1776. His father had lived in the Colony of \lirginia many years, but, being a loyal sup­ porter of the English Cro"rn, he returned w·ith his family to Ireland about 177 5 ,vhen the ,,rar clouds began to gather over the American_ colonies. As a youth he ,vas i1nbued ·with the spirit of American freedom, and the fireside stories of his parents auginented his desire to cast his lot with the peoples of the Ne\v \Vorld. So, on reaching his majority, he came to Virginia, and a fe,v years later migrated to Tennessee, the youngest and perh:ips the ,vildest state in the Union. Here on December 15, 1805~ he married Nancy Biddle, a daughter of a Scotch landholder, ,vho ,vas a well-to-do planter of that time. He fought ·with Jackson in the War of 1812. After the Battle of Ne,v Orleans, January 8, 1815, he returned home on the Biddle plantation in Hawk.ins county, Tennessee,

[352] FAMILY HISTORY where he died a short time later from the ravages and ex­ _posures of war. So far as is known he was the only member .of his family to make a permanent home in America.. The family records show that he and Nancy Biddle were the parents of five children, all born in Hawkins county, and that the mother died in 181 7. The children, John Biddle, 1806; Nancy, 1808; Elizab~th, 1809; Mary, 1811, and \\Til­ _liam, 1813-were placed with Biddle relatives, inasmuch as there were no Thompson relatives in America to share them. An uncle, \Villiam Spikes, received our subject's grandfather, William Thompson. In 1820 he came with this Spikes family, ,vho settled on Tennessee creek in Randolph county. He lived the rest of his life here. He was a farmer and wagon maker and served as judge of the county (1860-2). January 2, 1836 he married Mary McLain, a lady of Irish descent, who was the mother of John Biddle, William Washington, Nancy, Elizabeth, Sam­ uel \Vilson and David Dixon. By a later marriage to Sarah Jane McCoy he was the father of Gideon, Olin, Stephen Tell (Pocahontas postmaster Cleveland first administration), and Willis (J\fcllroy) , ·who have descendants in Randolph county. John Biddle and \\Tilliam lVashington fought ·with the Confederacy in the \Var Between the States:- and, as his father often said: HThey fought all day on Sunday hard; the .latter one was slain at sundown of the second day on Shiloh's bloody plain." Sam Wilson Thompson, born December 9, 1845, was married to Maria Elizabeth Adams, born April 20, 1849, in Bedford county, Tennessee, on December 20, 1866. To this marriage two daughters and two sons, living in Randolph county, were born-Beatrice Hufstedler, Birdell community, who has three sons and four daughters living there and two daughters in Oklahoma: H. Ella White, whose son Tell Thompson lives in Philadelphia; Edward, whose sons, Earl of Kapsas, Ralph and Joed, in Memphis, and a daughter,

[353] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Jessie Lee Davis, Pocahontas; and Eugene, subject of this sketch. He served the last two years in the War Between the States ,vith Capt. Wibb Conner's Cavalry Company and was elected first county tax assessor under our present State Constitution. He farmed practically all his life on Massin­ gale (Thompson-Baker) creek and died there April 20, 1921. Mrs. Thompson's father came from Tennessee· in 1856 and settled on Elevenpoints, the farm later being known as Pratt place and is now owned by Judge Bledsoe. She died No­ vember 15, 1914. Eugene Thompson ,vas born on a creek farm in ,vhat is now Shiloh township January 14, 1882, did farm work and attended rural schools. Later he attended high school in Pocahontas and Walnut Ridge under the tutorship of Pro­ fessor Watkins and went to business school in Little Rock. From 1901 to 1915 inclusive he taught in grade and high schools of Randolph, and played first base for Water Valley, Shiloh and Ouachita-Maynard Academy teams. He was county school examiner (1910-14) and in 1931 was elected to a six-year term on the County Board of Education, of which he was chairman. He was elected county coroner in 1942 and is incumbent. In I 916 he went into the general mercantile business on Bettis Street with his brother-in-la,v. On account of age Mr. \Vhite retired in 1931, and in 1934 Thompson changed to groceries exclusively and ,vas in that business until 1942, when he retired to retain his health. November 8, 1918, he married Ethel Miller, daughter of 11artha and the late \Villiam F. ~Iiller of Ravenden Springs. Born to this union ,vere one daughter and nvo sons-Mrs. Eileen ~1oore of Park Avenue; Samuel \Villiam, instructor in University of Minnesota ,vorking for doctor's degree in chemistry, and Everett Eugene, GI student in Arkansas University since being discharged from Air Corps as lieutenant. She died April 27, 1925. T,vo years and nvo

[354] FAMILY HISTORY months later he married Mae Galbraith, daughter of the late· George and Belle Galbraith, granddaughter of John Janes, reputed to be the first white settler of Randolph county about 1805 on Janes' creek. (Author's note: A few days after the article above was sub1nitted to us for publication in this history, Samuel Wil­ liam, son of the subject of this sketch ,vas accidentally dro,vned. This occurred June 16, 1946, in Minnetonka Lake, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Young Thompson was with a Sunday school party when it happened.)

THE WYATT FAMILY

The Wyatt family is descended from a long and honorable line of Norman, French and English stock. Adam Guiot (the Norman spelling of the name), came over with \Vil­ liam the Conqueror, and took part in the Battle of Hastings, and settled in south England, ,vhere his descendants took a prominent part in English history. Sir Henry \Viat (a later spelling which still later became \Vyat) , ,vas a favorite of King Henry VII and King Henry VI I I. He ,vas the father of the famous poet, Sir Thomas Wiat. Sir Ha,vthe \Viat ,vas a minister at the Coloney of James­ to,vn, under the governorship of his brother Sir Francis, and became the head of the \Vyatts of Virginia. A descendant, Daniel \Vyatt took part in many engagements of the Revo­ lutionary ,var, and 1vas also an early settler in Tennessee. Daniel \Vyatt, the head of the Randolph county clan, came to this county in 183i, accompanied by his ,vife, Janesy Nichols \Vyatt and three children~ Daniel, Evaline and Alcert P. Seven others stayed at their old home in Ste,vart countv.J Tennessee. ~rhe ,vriter has not been able to secure much information regarding this pJ.!'"t of the family.

(355] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

Daniel was educated in the schools of this county. On Elevenpoint river still stands an old rock chimney which he helped to build when l l years of age. He was married three times. His first wife was Nancy C. Burrow, widow of Je~se Burrow. They had five children, Letha C., Ella, Marion and two that died in infancy. Letha married J. T. Bennett. They moved to Oklahoma and reared a large family. Ella married J. W. Knoy and they moved to Texas and also reared a large family. Marion married Ella Jane Bryan. He became a teacher for many years in the schools of Randolph county. His last home was at Maynard where he died in 1914. They had 10 children, four of whom are living, in 1946. Oscar E., postmaster at Bono, Arkansas; Katie C]arice \Vilkinson. Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Vera Mabe] \Vatkins, Monette. Arkansas, and Daniel Bryan, Richmond Heights, Missouri. Daniel's second ·wife ·was Bethany J. Flannery and they had three children, Marvin (his children are a son Daly who lives at Kennett, Missouri, and a daughter, Mrs. Tola John­ son who lives at Pocahontas); John, who has a large family living at Havana, Arkansas, and Nancy Jane, ,vho ,vith her husband. C. H. Tvler,I lives on the old homestead built near Elevenpoint by her father. The Tylers have a son, Arthur of St. Louis; a son Hubert, assistant postmaster at Newport, and a daughter Elsie l\fagruder, living in Chicago. Daniel's third marriage ·was to Mrs. Ellen A. Chesser, maiden name Ellis. They had one son .. Jethro. who married Florence Lemmons and had three children, Dora, Dorothy and Eugene. He died at Egypt, Arkansas, in l 938. (Contributed by Oscar E. \VyatL)

[356] FAMILY HISTORY

SOLOMON 1\1. WHITE

The subject of this sketch is one o fthe best known citizens of the county. He ,vas born .A.pril 22, 1859 in Lyons county, Kentuc~y, and came to Randolph county in September, 1880. For ·several years he was one of the county's leading teachers. Mr. White _l\Tas county treasurer four years and county judge four years. "Uncle Sol," as he is affectionately known, is a member of the Church of Christ and is a very devout member, seldom missing Sunday services. He is an active justice of the peace and keeps regular hours at the courthouse each day.

Mr. "Wnite has the following to say about his family: "My grandparents on my father's side were Ezekiel and Elizabeth White. They lived in Beverly, i\-lassachusetts. I only kno,v of three children of this union: my father George, an Uncle William and Aunt Edna. My father was a sailor on the high seas from a boy until about 40 years of age. At that time he came to Kentucky where he met and married my mother, about 1838. To this union nine children ,vere born. Their names are as follo,vs: l\1ary Susan, ,vho married Dr. Martin Hogan; Samuel, Eliza, Matthew, Elizabeth, John E, Sarah, Edna and myself. I am the only one living of the family at this time. I never knew my uncle William or Aunt Edna. They settled somewhere in Tennessee. Aunt Edna married a Mr. Fraizer and they moved to Texas. I made some effort to locate the families in recent years but failed to find them. "My mother's people came from \'ermont to Kentucky cibout the close of the seventeenth century, and settled on the east side of the Cumberland river, in what ,vas then called Caldwell county, now Lyons county. The settlement was called 'Yankeetown.' My great-grandparents were named Hill. I do not know their given names. My grandparents

[357] HISTORY OF RANDOLPH COUNTY

,vere Jonas and Mary Martin. They ,vere the parents of six sons, as fol !o,vs: Solomon, for ,vhom I ,vas named; George, Henry, William, Truman and Isaac. Five daughters, l\1ariah, Sarah, Lucy, Susau, and Catherine, my mother. I only re­ metnber seeing Uncles Solomon and George, Aunt Sarah and mother. "My father died \\·hen I was a small child and I remember very little about him. l\;ly mother also died when I ,vas small. I ,vas reared by other folks ,vho told me very little about my people. My mother's relatives, ,vho came to Ken­ tucky from Vermont, ,vere the Hills, l\1artins, Ha,vleys, ,valkers, and Lyons. This Lyon family ,vas the same as General Matthe,v Lyons. "Since I came to Arkansas in September, 1880, I have taught school, ,vorked in stores, in fact did almost all kinds of ,vork except make ti es. "In 1881 ,vhile making my home ,vith Prof. John Hogan and ,vife, I met ~1iss Katie E. Jones, a sister of Mrs. Hogan. She and nvo sisters, Miss Annie Jones and Mrs. Lillie Curd, a small son and daughter, came here from l\tlurray, Kentucky. "On Decen1ber 7, 1884, I married Katie Jones, at the home of the late \V. H. Tipton, just east of l\faynard. To this union three childrer:i ,vere born. They were, Annie Maye (no,v l\frs. Annie Maye Cherry), born February 21, 1886; Jimmie, born September l l, 188, died in infancy; Thomas, born September 9, 1889, died September IO, 1903.

0 After the death of my first wife I married my present ,-.,ife, Miss H. Ella Thompson, September 29~ 1895. To this union one son was born January 15, 1897, named Tell Thompson White. Tell is a civil engineer and works for the Federal government. He is stationed at present in Phila­ delphia, Pennsylvania.. He graduated as civil engineer at the University of Arkansas at 18 1-2 years of age. He is also a geologist and petroleum engineer.

[358] FAMILY HISTORY

"I ,vas elected to the office of county treasurer in Septem­ ber, 1902, and served four years. In 1906 I was elected county judge and served four years in this office." Such is the family story of Judge Solomon M. \Vhite, aged 87 years in the year 1946.

[359]